The latest research on topics ranging from the chemistry of plants to endangered undersea treasures will be highlighted at the International Chemical Congress of Pacific Basin Societies (Pacifichem 2000) to be held December 14-19, 2000 in Honolulu.

Sponsored jointly by the American Chemical Society, the Chemical Society of Japan, the Canadian Society of Chemistry, the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, and the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry, the congress will be hosted by ACS, the world's largest scientific society. Twenty chemical societies headquartered in Pacific Basin countries are official participants. The ACS will operate a pressroom on site and online to assist reporters wishing to cover the conference. For further information about press arrangements at Pacifichem, contact Charmayne Marsh at (202)872-4445 or at [email protected]. The housing deadline is Friday, November 10, 2000.

More than 9,000 scientists are expected in Honolulu for the congress and an estimated 8,500 papers have been submitted, a record number for a Pacifichem meeting. The congress accepted papers in ten key areas of chemistry including agrochemistry, analytical, bioscience and technology, environmental, inorganic and organic chemistry.

Over 180 symposia are planned, including:
--Food and Beverage Antioxidants in Health and Disease
--Chemical Perspectives on Human Cancer
--Recent Advances in Protease Inhibitor Design
--Alzheimer's Disease: Receptors and Small Molecule Therapies
--Marine Natural Products Chemistry
--Nanomaterials: Synthesis, Characterization and Catalysis

Pacifichem is held every five years to disseminate recent research results in the chemical sciences among chemists of the pacific rim countries, thereby fostering industrial development, improving local and global environments, and the material well-being of their societies.