Slovenian President at the ceremony celebrating the International Year of Chemistry

Ljubljana, 9.2.2011  |  press release

The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Danilo Türk, attended the opening ceremony of the International Year of Chemistry in Slovenia. In his opening address, he emphasised the importance of chemistry for quality of life, better health care, food, environmental protection, energy and other facets of contemporary life. He described chemistry as a science that enlarges the understanding of nature, enables new ways of life and increases our common wealth.

According to the president, the Slovenian chemical industry is one of the most important, development-oriented industries, covering a wide range of chemical products, pharmaceutical raw materials and production ingredients, plastic materials and other products. President Türk noted that we can be proud of this part of the economy and of the Slovenian science and research achievements, which are globally competitive and well-established.

The president also mentioned the hundredth anniversary of the award of the Nobel Prize for chemistry to the scientist Marie Curie, who personified scientific creativity and dedication; her discovery of radioactivity changed the world technologically, socially and politically. He also noted the significant contribution made by female scientists and researchers to the development of chemistry and highlighted the fact that to date, Marie Curie remains one of the few female Nobel Prize award winners.

According to President Türk, Marie Curie also symbolizes a common European scientific and intellectual area. He emphasised that Europe will prosper only if it will be able to discover its scientific talents, anywhere within the European space, and to give them the opportunity to develop and be awarded for their achievements. As he explained, only those who better develop science and use its achievements will make progress; for this reason, we should re-establish scientific optimism.

President Türk also spoke of the negative consequences of the use and abuse of knowledge from the field of chemistry, resulting in environmental pollution, biosphere destruction and environmental degradation and species extinction In this respect, he also drew attention to the responsibility of chemistry experts in the management and reduction of harmful emissions into environment, the promotion of development and the use of technologies for prevention, removal and reduction of environmental burdens.