What better way to ring in UNESCO’s International Year of Chemistry than attend the premiere scientific gathering in the Pacific Rim?  The International Chemical Congress of Pacific Basin Societies (Pacifichem) has returned to Honolulu this month with record interest.

Pacifichem is holding the sixth in a series of co-sponsored scientific conferences at the Hawai`i Convention Center from Dec. 15-20, 2010, with the theme of “Chemistry, technology and our global environment.”  An all-time high of nearly 13,000 papers have been submitted from 72 countries for presentation in oral and poster format.  Student poster submissions totaled more than 3,000, out of which 240 were selected for a special poster presentation.

The biggest Pacifichem conference ever is expected to bring about scientific breakthroughs and inventions that will eventually reach the marketplace, similar to previous meetings.  Discussion topics cover industries ranging from energy to aeronautics to pharmaceuticals.

Outside of conference activities, Pacifichem is also featuring a new element this year:  The integration of Hawaiian cultural education, where displays and demonstrations such as lei making will be available to the international field of attendees.

Founded in 1984, Pacifichem has been held in Honolulu nearly every five years.  For more information, visit www.pacifichem.org.