The General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed 2011 as the International Year of Chemistry to make the world aware of the contribution of this science to the well being of humanity. The year coincides with the centenary of the Nobel Prize awarded to Marie Curie. To this end events have been held the world over to highlight how chemistry has helped improve the sustainability of our ways of life and solve humankind’s essential problems.
This collection aims to continue raising scientific awareness beyond 2011 by using historical milestones, discoveries, materials, chemical products and chemical personalities and an approach that combines entertainment and scientific rigour. We hope you enjoy it!