Jong KNCV at the celebration of 10 years of ‘The Hague Ethical Guidelines’

The day began with a warm reception at the headquarters of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and a visit to the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the organisation in 2013 ‘for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons‘.

Ambassador Thomas Schieb, the Permanent Representative of Germany to the OPCW, received the group for lunch and a subsequent discussion. The group was then welcomed at the OPCW ChemTech Centre, where a guided tour of the laboratory and the new Technology Training Hub took place. These facilities play a crucial role in supporting OPCW inspectors and in the enforcement of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

A key element of the programme was the workshop in which participants engaged in dialogue with one another about the HEG, ethics in chemistry, and the challenges of the future. The discussion that followed highlighted how important it is to strengthen awareness and responsibility in professional practice.

Jong KNCV looks back on an inspiring and educational experience that has further strengthened international dialogue amongst young chemists, according to Merel Spierings, chair of Jong KNCV. ‘This day reminded us once again of how valuable it is to build a strong network, not only in the Netherlands, but internationally as well.’