CHEMISTRY FOR A BETTER FUTURE: DOES IT NEED REPOSITIONING

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CHEMISTRY FOR A BETTER FUTURE DOES IT NEED
REPOSITIONING?
A Perspective on Asia

• Goverdhan Mehta
• Department of Organic Chemistry
• Indian Institute of Science
• Bangalore, INDIA

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• Structure of the presentation
• Obeisance- A celebration of chemistry
• Scoping Chemistry challenges responses
• Asymmetric world - basic paradigms
• Silver lining- chemistry in Asia
• Looking ahead.

tour de force of Chemical scenario
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Dedicated to Amedeo Carlo Avogadro
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Chemistry stirs extreme emotions.
If you are obliged to neglect anything, let it be
your chemistry. It is the least useful and the
least amusing to a country gentleman of all the
ordinary branches of science.

-Thomas Jefferson
I feel sorry for people who dont know anything
about chemistry. They are missing an important
source of happiness.

- Linus Pauling
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Chemistry- a tryst with destiny
Chemists are a strange class of mortals, impelled
by an almost maniacal impulse to seek their
pleasures amongst smoke and vapour, soot and
flames, poisons and poverty, yet amongst all
these evils I seem to live so sweetly that I
would rather die than change places with the King
of Persia.
- Johann Joachim Becher
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Chemistry is in Everything and
Everything is in Chemistry
An amazing science of familiar things
From grand mothers recipes to.. Sherlock
Holmes detective work to witchcraft and even
magic!
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Chemistry is in Everything and
Everything is in Chemistry
Chemistry is a utility science
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Chemistry is in Everything and
Everything is in Chemistry
Chemistry is a Core Science
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Chemistry is in Everything and
Everything is in Chemistry
Chemistry is an Integrative Science
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Chemistry is in Everything and
Everything is in Chemistry
Chemistry...is one of the broadest branches of
science, if for no other reason that, when we
think about it, everything is chemistry. -
Luciano Caglioti
Chemistry is a Synergy Science
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Chemistry is in Everything and
Everything is in Chemistry
A dynamic branch of science constantly evolving
Chemistry is a Synergy Science
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Chemistry has changed life.
Let it be acknowledged, whoever we are, wherever
we live, whatever we do, chemistry is omni
present, improving our life and our world.
..chemistry is the window given to mankind to
glimpse into its material essence
A very proud record and brighter future ahead..
S. Shaik, Angew Chem. 2003
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• Chemistry an ever expanding canvas
• Materials to medicines
• Nanotechnology to sustainable energy
• Climate research to genetic modifications
• Growing and unmatched interdisciplinarity

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..no matter how the world evolves in the 21st
century, chemistry will always be at the centre
of human wellbeing, economic development and
sustainability of our planet.

But..
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Is chemistry at the cross roads?

• Is our identity at stake? Do we tend to define
  ourselves narrowly despite the vast expanse of
  the discipline?
• Generally, chemists seem content in living from
  publication to publication missing the big
  picture?
• Should chemistry be repositioned with respect to
  other sciences? Do we need to cosmeticize our
  discipline to amplify its intellectual appeal?

All science is either physics or stamp
collecting- Rutherford

Science that promotes intellectual polygamy and
promiscuity
Chemists are often accused of intellectual
conservatism
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Is chemistry at the cross roads?

• How to strengthen dynamic synergy between our
  perpetual quest for new structures with
  functions?
• Are risk factors, the bête noire of chemistry,
  being overplayed?
• Despite risks, acceptance of nuclear energy
  is resurfacing
• How can chemistry retune/redeem societal esteem
  commensurate with its contributions? Do we need
  to communicate better?
• Is it only an image problem?

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A Confounding Paradox
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Strange correlation between the prosperity of
society and disdain for chemistry
Curiously, in the poor and developing nations
chemistry does not evoke negative responses
it is still viewed as a science for human
good
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Scientific competitiveness and economic wealth
D. A. King, Nature, 430, 311, 2004
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How to champion the cause of chemistry?

• Revisit its intellectual landscape - promote
  chemistry as a science for human wellbeing and
  sustainable future.
• Need icons - a la Feynman for modern physics,
  Watson or Monod for modern biology or Medawar/
  Pauling for science.
• Interdisciplinarity vs identity. How much space
  to yield? Are there lessons from nanoscience and
  genomics?

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How to champion the cause of chemistry?

• Harness the full potential of the exceptional
  interface between chemistry and industry.
  (Liebigs model)
• Project it as a discipline that equips one with
  multiple skills, well suited for a range of
  promising careers.
• Chemistry - as a bridge to span the increasing
  chasm between science and society

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Is Chemistry in the retreat?

• Many portends
• Departments are being shut down rechristened or
  merged in desperation for survival era of
  prefixes
• Many research councils and funding agencies
  removing the word chemistry as a section
• Falling stature of chemistry seeking shelter
• Lack of interest among young mirroring the
  trend in science
• Near absence of a cohesive and influential voice
  for the chemistry community and statesman
  chemists

Let us reach out to society and project our
discipline as the fundamental science in the
quest for sustainability in the 21st century
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Looking Beyond discovery addressing human
needs and concerns
Grasping the international dimension
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UNDERSTANDING A RESURGENT ASIA

• A dominant geographic entity, covering nearly
  one-third (43,608,000 sq km) of the Earths land
  mass.
• Home to 61 (3.7 bn) of worlds population.

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UNDERSTANDING A RESURGENT ASIA

• Culturally, ethnically and linguistically
  diverse.
• Civilizational strengths dating back to around
  5000 B.C.
• Tradition of learning and scholarship.
• Ravaged in the recent past by colonization and
  conflicts.
• Galloping population and emerging markets.
• Resilient people adept at facing the core
  challenges

A young continent with vibrant, ambitious
population - raring to go (cf. 54 of Indias
population is below the age of 30)
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Chemistry in Asia

• Science is becoming a world system
• Internationalization of Chemistry a reality
  

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A basic paradigm
World is asymmetric, not only in socio-economic
arena but more so in S T capacities
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Growing inequalities

• Knowledge Divide

A troubled world
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Galloping Consumption

• Depleting resources

A stressed planet
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A basic paradigm
World is asymmetric
- Chemistry and Asia are no exceptions

• Asymmetry among Asian and OECD countries
• Asymmetry between Asian countries
• Asymmetry within the Asian countries

GDP varies from 500 - 28,000 p.a Universities
per country lt5 - gt300 Chemistry Ph. Ds p.a 0 -
gt1000 Chemistry publications p.a lt5 gt3000
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Notwithstanding the asymmetries, chemistry is
heading for a boom time in Asia
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ASIA ITS LONG TRADITION OF CHEMISTRY
Natural products and traditional medicine

• Ayurveda in India, Chinese system among many
  others prevalent in Asia - are being reinvented
  now for human wellbeing
• Neutraceuticals and Cosmeceuticals .60 bn
  herbal market.

Artemisinin a potent antimalarial drug, isolated
from Quighaosu
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ASIA ITS LONG TRADITION OF CHEMISTRY

Materials processing

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ASIA ITS LONG TRADITION OF CHEMISTRY
Dyes and pigments
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Chemistry in Asia

• Where does it stand?
• Where is it heading?

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From silver liningto golden edge
Chemistry does not yet have a serious image
problem in Asia- though there are some legitimate
concerns of civil society and environmenalists
While chemistry may not be the first career
choice among the young Asians, it is certainly
not the last

Job opportunities for chemists are getting
brighter
Investments in the chemical industry are flowing
both in the manufacturing and R D sectors as
more and more countries become TRIPS compliant
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Asia the Changing Landscape of Chemistry

• Chemistry continues to draw students at both
  graduate and undergraduate level
• Signs of incremental improvement in the quality
  of training and research
• It is projected that by 2012 Asia will produce
  more Ph.Ds in Chemistry than US or Europe!
• Increasing capacity to retain knowledge intensive
  capita - reversing the brain drain
• Job opportunities with very competitive
  compensation
• Emergence of a new breed of entrepreneurs

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Many new initiatives

• New institutions - focus on Universities
• (Re)building research infrastructure
• Innovations in chemistry curricula
• Web enabled teaching-virtual experiments
• Incentives for faculty and students

Prime driver
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Chemistry in Asia- Positive signals and
increasing visibility

• Research contributions in cutting edge areas
• Many world class institutions-drawing attention
• Emergence of new leadership
• More speakers at leading Conferences/Symp.
• Regular hosting of major international events
• Signs of a spread-new countries in the arena

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Asia-increasing share of chemical literature

• In 2004 contributions from Asia accounted for
  gt30 of the Chemistry literature
• China 12
• Japan 11.8
• India 2.6
• S. Korea 2.4
• Source CAS

Population 61
There are first time contributions from
many countries in leading Chemistry Journals
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Relative Position in Chemistry (based on Chemical
abstracts)
In the chemistry world eleven four players from
Asia
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Contributions to world Science 1990-2004
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Material Science
Contributions in Material Science 1990-2004
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Powerful interface of chemistry with industry
World trade in chemicals in 2000 was 1500
billion projected to be over 2000 billion in
2006
Geographic distribution of trade
EU 31 USA 30 Asia 27
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Chemical Industry Emerging Asian Scenario

• Major supply of bulk chemicals
• Manufacturing of fine chemicals and
  intermediates
• Phenomenal rise in contract research
• Establishment of major R D Centers by MNCs
• What are the drivers for such moves?
• Abundant human resources,
• Core competence of Asians in process research,
• Cost cutting,
• Environmental concerns, REACH has not yet
  reached

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Chemical Industry Emerging Asian Scenario

• What are the benefits?
• Economic growth and employment
• Helps locals to move up the value chain
• Development of entrepreneurship
• Draws innovators
• What are the concerns?
• Environmental pollution air , water
• Hazards Bhopal gas leak (1984), Harbin (2005)
• Growth of indigenous R D
• IPR issues

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ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION IN ASIA
Pivotal role of chemistry in sustainable
development?
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• Lessons from the Miracle of Rhine

Following the Basel disaster of 1986, a
concerted, cross country effort with chemical
industry participation and policy interventions
has cleaned-up the river no more heavy metal
contamination and even the salamander fish is back
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Pharmaceuticals - A sunrise sector in Asia
Globally, pharmaceutical industry is worth gt500
billion, propelled by a string of
innovative blockbusters Generics market is
touching 50 billion
Asian countries have found a niche in generics
primarily due to special flair for innovations in
process research
But is that enough?
Particularly in the TRIPS compliant competitive
regime!
Blockbuster basket from Asia is rather empty
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But, there are spectacular successes
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INDIAN PHARMA BENEFITING THE NEEDY

• Core competence in process research has
  brought down the price of the anti-AIDS cocktail
  by a factor of 20 for the needy in the developing
  nations.
• An international NGO has set up facilities in
  Hyderabad to make available life saving drugs at
  affordable price to the needy.

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INDIAN PHARMA BENEFITING THE NEEDY
Norway court chips away at Pfizer's Lipitor
patents
Aug. 30 A Norway court sided with Ranbaxy
Laboratories Ltd. (500359.BY) in the Indian drug
company's effort to sell a cheaper, generic
version of Pfizer Inc.'s (PFE) blockbuster
Lipitor cholesterol-lowering pill there.
atrovastatin
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Pharmaceuticals - Opportunities and threats
Challenges of competition and innovation

• Global R D spending in 2001 was 31 billion,
  typically pharma giants spend 10-16 of turn over
  Asia 2
• Introduction of a new drug costs 800 million
  70 of the costs goes into clinical trials time
  span of 7-10 years
• Current focus on generics. But, how long?
• Outsourcing and contract research are rapidly
  growing
• Pharma giants are establishing R D and
  manufacturing facilities in Asia posing a
  challenge to local companies

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Where should Asian emphasis be ?

• Sustainable Chemistry
• Green manufacturing, process research
• Natural Products
• leads and scaffolds for diversity,
  chemogenomics
• Pharmaceuticals-
• from generics to NMEs, high-end custom
  synthesis
• Catalysis energy, environment
• H2, CO, CO2, CH4
• Nanoscience and technology
• Sensors, devices
• Pragmatic partnerships with MNCs
• Beyond custom synthesis and contract research

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Globalization glocalization symbiosis
Capacity to transform indigenous knowledge
based technologies and local innovations on a
global platform Integration of the present
needs (contract research and manufacturing) with
the long term vision of knowledge creators (IPR
holders) Brain drain to Brain gain- from
migration of people to moving jobs and tasks
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Watch out! Let not the present be a short joy
ride for Asia on the globalization bus
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Chemistry networks and organizations

• An Asian umbrella body- Federation of Asian
  Chemical Societies (FACS) with 30 national
  members.

• Holds a biennial ACC, the 11th scheduled in
  South Korea
• A range of networking projects - from Green
  Chemistry to
• Chemical Education to Medicinal Chemistry

• Network on the Chemistry of Natural Products
• The Asian-Pacific Chemical Education network
• Asian network on Green Chemistry
• Asia- Link project in Medicinal Chemistry (EU)

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Chemistry networks and organizations
Almost all countries have a professional society
Chemical Society of Japan (gt125 yrs) Indian
Chemical Society (gt80 yrs) Chinese Chemical
Society (gt70yrs)
Many of them publish journals - some but not all
are covered by CA and other databases
Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Japan Journal
of the Indian Chemical Society Journal of the
Korean Chemical Society Iranian Journal of
Chemistry
Impact factors range from 0.00 to lt2.00
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Need for forging new partnerships

• Collaborative efforts in Chemistry between Asian
  Countries are inadequate and usually driven
  either for accessing facility or as part of
  political agenda.
• Collaboration between Asian countries and
  developed countries are mostly student or natural
  resource centric or part of aid programs.
• Create a new niche.
• New partnerships should be knowledge centric,
• equitable and genuinely two way

My plea - retune the mind set in time, commit to
spirit of internationalism in promoting chemistry
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There is an emerging consensus that the 21st
century will be an Asian Century If so,
Chemistry is destined to play a major role in
improving the quality of life, preserving the
environment and ensuring food and energy security
on a sustainable basis.
Let chemistry flourish every where for the
wellbeing of our planet and all humankind.
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Thank you