Forward thinking

Tomorrow’s chemistry today: concepts in nanoscience, organic materials and environmental chemistry

Bruno Pignataro (ed)

Weinheim, Germany: Wiley-VCH 2008 | 493 pp | ?75.00 (HB) ISBN 9783527319183

Reviewed by N Davies

This volume contains the work of young chemists who presented at the 1st European Chemistry Congress (Budapest, August 2006), and as such it contains a wealth of new chemistry.  

The largest chapter is devoted to nanoscience and nanotechnology, and contains much information on synthesis and characterisation of new materials. A second chapter on synthesis, catalysis and materials concentrates largely on new insights in catalysis, while a third contains informative ’case studies’ on such topics as atmospheric chemistry, new anti-cancer drugs and tannin chemistry. 

This volume is not for an interested layperson, nor is it an undergraduate textbook. Instead, it serves to inspire and inform researchers in the novel chemistry being developed, which by its nature is inherently multidisciplinary. It would be a useful source for PhD level tutorials, literature surveys and discussions.  

Perhaps the most effective purpose of this volume is to highlight the fact that chemistry is not only an underpinning discipline that produces numerate and literate graduates, but is also an enabling discipline at the forefront of modern science. 

As Pignataro writes in his preface, there is a need to take care of young researchers if their interdisciplinary projects and collaborations are to succeed.  

Various funding schemes have dealt with this issue with some degree of success; however, in opposition to this is the traditional conservatism in peer review. This volume goes a long way towards demonstrating what supporting talented young researchers in new research areas can achieve.