Royal Australian Chemical Institute

Brief description

The Royal Australian Chemical Institute's (RACI) origins date back to 1917 when it was known as the Australian Chemical Institute (ACI). The ACI was established for the purpose of promoting chemistry, as well as being Australia's qualifying body for professional chemists. Back then it consisted of four State Branches (New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria) and had a total founding membership of 400. In 1921/22 the Australian Association of Chemists disbanded and most of its members joined the ACI. In 1923 ACI was incorporated as a public company in New South Wales and in 1932 it was granted a Royal Charter. However, it wasn't until 1953, after a Supplementary Royal Charter, that the Institute changed its name to the Royal Australian Chemical Institute. One of the RACI's goals was to establish national special interest groups which later became known as divisions. Previously these groups were run by the individual RACI branches with little cross-state interaction. To help achieve their goal a Groups Steering Committee was formed in 1964. By 2006 the RACI had 13 Divisions, over 8000 members and a branch in each State and Territory

Full description

The Royal Australian Chemical Institute's (RACI) origins date back to 1917 when it was known as the Australian Chemical Institute (ACI). The ACI was established for the purpose of promoting chemistry, as well as being Australia's qualifying body for professional chemists. Back then it consisted of four State Branches (New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria) and had a total founding membership of 400. In 1921/22 the Australian Association of Chemists disbanded and most of its members joined the ACI. In 1923 ACI was incorporated as a public company in New South Wales and in 1932 it was granted a Royal Charter. However, it wasn't until 1953, after a Supplementary Royal Charter, that the Institute changed its name to the Royal Australian Chemical Institute. One of the RACI's goals was to establish national special interest groups which later became known as divisions. Previously these groups were run by the individual RACI branches with little cross-state interaction. To help achieve their goal a Groups Steering Committee was formed in 1964. By 2006 the RACI had 13 Divisions, over 8000 members and a branch in each State and Territory

Formed in 1916, with a draft constitution completed in January 1917 and the inauguration of state branches later that year, the Institute soon produced a "Schedule of Qualifications" for membership and by 1932 had received its Royal Charter with the support of the Institute of Chemistry following Professor (Sir) David Rivett's discussion of qualification standards with that body. Regional and special interest groups were formed from the 1930's. Apart from activities designed for the profession, the Institute has promoted chemistry through public events such as the "Chemex" exhibitions and "Chemistry Week".