Berit Olofsson, Professor of Organic Chemistry at Stockholm University, is the recipient of the EuChemS Division of Organic Chemistry Award for Service 2024.

Professor Olofsson has had several different positions of trust in European committees within EuChemS, such as Secretary and vice-chair of the EuChemS Division of Organic Chemistry between 2018-2022. She is currently the President of the International Scientific Committee of the European Symposium on Organic Chemistry, a position that she has had since 2023.

In 2020, she was elected as a member of Angewandte Chemie’s international advisory board, followed by the Chem advisory board in 2023.

How does it feel to step down from your position at EuChemS?

– I served as the Swedish member of EuChemS’ Division of Organic Chemistry for quite some time (since 2015), and decided to step down in the fall of 2023. I think it’s wise not to stay too long in such boards. New people with new ideas give fresh energy! Henrik Sundén at Gothenburg university has now taken over my role at EuChemS.

Is there anything from your time at EuChemS that you are extra proud of?

– I served as the Secretary and Vice President between 2018-2022, and was part of restructuring and organizing the division during those years. I’m proud to have participated in making the division more efficient and transparent, with a stronger focus on gender balance.

What is the position of Swedish chemistry in Europe? What should we do to improve?

– Swedish chemistry research has a good reputation in Europe. From a European perspective, we’re known to have quite good conditions for PhD students, but less research funding and smaller groups compared to many other countries in Europe. Swedish organic chemistry research will be highlighted in the EuChemS series ”Highlighting organic chemistry”, September 20, 2024.

Berit Olofsson arranged the highly successful event ICHIC 7 ⎯ the International Conference on Hypervalent Iodine Chemistry ⎯ in June last year. She was awarded the Arrhenius Plaque by the Swedish Chemical Society, Kemisamfundet, in 2021.

We congratulate Berit Olofsson to her new award!

Svenska Kemisamfundet