Author - Douglas Williamson

1. Overview
The BMCS ran its first hybrid event in collaboration with the SCI. The event was the 21st RSC / SCI Medicinal Chemistry Symposium, held on 13th-15th September 2021 both virtually and physically at Churchill College, Cambridge, UK, and it was highly successful.

2. Virtual Platforms
Vimeo was used for the live stream of the main technical programme on the recommendation of TC Digital (the AV company used and associated with Churchill College). The initial intention had been to use YouTube but the platform’s password-protection changed, and hence the change to Vimeo.
Zoom Meetings was used for networking, using one of the RSC’s licences, because it was gratis.

Zoom Meetings was also used for Posters (one licence) and for the Speaker set-up and Q&A (another licence). Again, this was on the recommendation of TC Digital as it was an easy platform to work with, inexpensive, and familiar to most users.

3. Role of AV Provider
In advance, TC Digital worked with each speaker and each flash presenter to create a recording for use on the day.

On the day, TC Digital set the cameras in the conference room, provided the sound mixing, communicated with the virtual speakers and chairs. They also managed the live Q&A in a dedicated Zoom Room. Two of the speakers delivered live presentations, and four of the speakers were live in the conference room for Q&A. The 2021 Malcolm Campbell Memorial Prize was presented in person and received via video link. This is the video with Sir Patrick Vallance receiving the Prize.

14 September 2021

Sir Patrick Vallance, UK Government Chief Scientific Adviser, today received the Malcolm Campbell Memorial Prize for 2021, on behalf of all British scientists and clinical researchers involved in the fight against COVID-19.

Sir Patrick was virtually presented with the award during the 21st RSC/SCI Medicinal Chemistry Symposium, held in Cambridge and organised by the Biological and Medicinal Chemistry Sector (BMCS) of the Royal Society of Chemistry

Sir Patrick said: “I want to thank you enormously on behalf of all scientists. To receive this Prize on behalf of  so many people across the UK who have been involved in the response to COVID and so the world-class science that’s really made the difference, not only in the UK but right the way across the world, is an honour.