Chemistry is commonly regarded as a basic or pure subject. However chemistry has many important applications in various industries and environmental matters and is also one of the few subjects that has its own industry. Chemistry underpins the major role that Chemical and pharmaceutical companies play in the world economy and chemistry is at the basis of many other industrial sectors including food, cosmetics, detergents, plastics, textiles, ceramics, computer hardware, and environmental monitoring.

Accordingly, it is very important that all educated people, and particularly graduate chemists, have a good training in chemistry and that the fundamental subject specific competences are acquired and nurtured.

To draw attention to the role of quality in the process of designing, developing and implementing chemistry study programmes, to develop an approach for quality enhancement which involves all elements of the learning chain, to develop a number of tools and identify examples of good practice are some of the objectives of the Research in Chemical Education.

The 9th European Conference being organized by the Turkish Chemical Society in Istanbul from 6 to 9 July 2008 under the auspices of EuCheMS will provide the ideal occasion to debate Chemical Education issues in a global context and chemists worldwide should not miss this opportunity.

Giovanni Natile
Professor, University of Bari
President EuCheMS

Welcome to the 9th. ECRICE in Istanbul. The ECRICE conferences have been run every two years for the last two decades and are the flagship event of the EuCheMS Division of Chemical Education. EuCheMS is an association of chemical societies in Europe and the Division of Chemical Education focuses on the teaching and learning of chemistry at all levels

(http://www.euchems.org/Divisions/DivCEd/index.asp)

The series of ECRICE conferences are intended to promote research in chemical education, at all levels where chemistry is taught, from primary to tertiary level. The focus is on research rather than practice, but often these are intertwined. The ECRICE conferences bring together university professors, chemical educators and chemistry teachers from across Europe, and provide a unique pan-European forum for the sharing of research findings relating to the teaching and learning of chemistry. I am very happy that the next ECRICE will be in Turkey in 2008, as I know that Turkey has a very active research community in chemical education. The location of the conference at the interface between Europe and the Middle East will also mean a greater participation from countries in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, which I greatly welcome. I look forward to seeing you in Istanbul next July.

Peter E. Childs
Chairman, EuCheMS Division of Chemical Education, 2002-8,
Past-President, Institute of Chemistry of Ireland,2005-7,
Senior Lecturer in Chemistry,
University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
00353-61-202075

9th European Conference on Research In Chemical Education (ECRICE) will be held in Istanbul,Turkey from 06 - 09 July 2008. On behalf of Turkish Chemical Society, we cordially invite you to attend the 9 th ECRICE.

As in the previous conferences we have tried our best to provide a good scientific program. A number of eminent scientists will present their most recent findings. In this conference, there will be plenary and invited lectures, oral and poster sessions.

In addition to the scientific program we will offer rich social and cultural programs for participants and accompanying persons.

We would be honored if you would be able to join us and participate in this conference.

We look forward to meeting you in Istanbul….

Sincerely

Prof. Dr. Nesrin Emekli
President of TCS