The Society of Chemical Industry (SCI)
The Society of Chemical Industry (SCI) is an international forum where science meets business on independent, impartial ground. We seek to advance the science of applied chemistry and related sciences for public benefit, which we do by encouraging the multidisciplinary discussion of issues and opportunities through 6 publications and 50+ conferences per year.
Company details
Find locations served, office locations
- Business Type:
- Professional association
- Industry Type:
- Environmental - Environmental Management
- Market Focus:
- Internationally (various countries)
- Year Founded:
- 1881
About Us
The Society of Chemical Industry (SCI) is a unique international forum where science meets business on independent, impartial ground. The Society offers a chance to share information between sectors as diverse as food and agriculture, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, environmental science and safety.
Originally established in 1881, SCI is a registered charity with individual Members in over 70 countries. Its international headquarters are in London, UK.
Ever since its foundation, SCI's principal objective has been to further the application of chemistry and related sciences for the public benefit, through our events and publications.
History
On 21 November 1879, Lancashire chemist John Hargreaves canvassed a meeting of chemists and managers in Widnes, St Helens and Runcorn to consider the formation of a chemical society. Modelled on the successful Tyne Chemical Society already operating in Newcastle, the newly proposed South Lancashire Chemical Society held its first meeting on 29 January 1880 in Liverpool, with the eminent industrial chemist and soda manufacturer Ludwig Mond presiding.
But it was not to retain its name for very long. At only the second meeting of the new society, in April that same year, it was proposed that the Society should not be confined to Lancashire, and that it should be called 'the Society of Chemical Engineers’.
As history shows, however, that name did not last long either. The title 'the Society of Chemical Industry’ was finally settled upon at a meeting in London on 4 April 1881, as being 'more inclusive'. Held at the offices of the Chemical Society, now the Royal Society of Chemistry, in Burlington House, this meeting was presided over by Henry Roscoe (pictured), appointed first president of SCI, and attended by Eustace Carey, Ludwig Mond, FA Abel, Lowthian Bell, William H Perkin, Walter Weldon, E Rider Cook, Thomas Tyrer and George E Davis. All were later to serve as SCI presidents, except Davis who became the first general secretary.
SCI Strategy:
SCI is a unique multidisciplinary forum where science meets business on independent, impartial ground. SCI provides the opportunity for sharing information between sectors as diverse as food and agriculture, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and the chemical industry.
Established in 1881 as the Society of Chemical Industry, SCI is a registered charity today with members in over 70 countries. Its headquarters are in London, UK.
From inception, SCI's principal objective has been to further the application of chemistry and related sciences into industry for the public benefit.
Strategy
Vision : To be where science meets business
Identity
- Unique, independent forum for innovation
- Multi-science and multi-disciplinary community
- Creating value for chemistry, related sciences and people
- Focussed on business sectors including Energy, Environment, Food, Health and Materials
Strategic Mission (Purpose)
- To foster innovation through networking and distributing knowledge
- To facilitate recruitment from universities to SMEs and multinationals
- To support members’ careers through training, development and employment opportunities
- To contribute to the public understanding of science