The Society of Chemical Industry (SCI) is a learned society set up in 1881 "to further the application of chemistry and related sciences for the public benefit".[1] Its purpose is "Promoting the commercial application of science for the benefit of society". Its first president was Henry Enfield Roscoe and its first secretary was George E. Davis. Other noted chemists associated with the society are William Perkin, Rudolph Messel, Ludwig Mond, Leo Baekeland, Sir Eric Rideal, Charles F. Chandler, Richard Seligman, Hamilton Young Castner, George Thomas Beilby, Henry Edward Armstrong, William Ramsay, Viscount Leverhulme, Charles Tennant, and Leslie Lampitt.
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The headquarters is in Belgrave Square, London, but there are also offices in the United States, Canada, and Australia.
The Society aims to promote links between scientists and industrialists, and does so through technical and business interest groups and international and regional groups, and by running some 50 conferences, seminars and lectures a year.
SCI also aims to inform government decision-making relating to science and industry. A paper urging further action on science education to protect future of UK economic health produced by SCI members in response to the closure of the Chemistry department at the University of Sussex gained newspaper coverage in the UK.[2]
SCI organises over 50 conferences and events per year which are focused around stimulating and informative scientific and special interest subjects. These are primarily organised through SCI member-led technical and regional interest groups.
SCI runs free Public Evening Lectures.[3]
SCI's Technical Interest Groups comprise:
| BioResources | Environment | Lipids |
| Biotechnology | Fine Chemicals | Macro Group UK |
| The British Carbon Group | Fire Chemistry | Materials Chemistry |
| Colloid and Surface Chemistry | Food | Process Engineering |
| Construction Materials | Science and Enterprise | |
| Health & Safety | Separation Science and Technology | |
| Electrochemical Technology | Horticulture | Young Chemists' Panel |
International Groups comprise:
| America | Australia | Canada |
Regional Interest Groups in the UK comprise:
| Bristol and South West | All Ireland | Scotland |
| Cambridge and Great Eastern | Liverpool and North West | Thames and Kennet |
| Chinese UK | London | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| East Midlands |
The society publishes a number of peer-reviewed scientific journal in conjunction with Wiley-Blackwell:
SCI also publishes the fortnightly magazine Chemistry & Industry.[10]
The Society has a number of awards, including the Levinstein Memorial Award to persons who have made significant contributions in the field of chemical technology.[11]