UK Computational Chemistry Working Party

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About us

 
 

About the UK Computational Chemistry Working Party

The Working Party was formed originally in 1969 as the University of London Molecular Wavefunction Working Party and met at intervals throughout the following years. In 1979 the name was changed to University of London Computational Chemistry Working Party in order to reflect the expanding interest of the membership in the broader field of computational chemistry. From 1987-96 the Working Party has acted as a national group, in accordance with the National Supercomputer Centre status of ULCC.

From 15 Nov. 1996 to 2001 the Working Party has been funded by EPSRC as the beneficiary of and as an integral part of, "A Facility for Computational Chemistry in the United Kingdom" under a special fixed-term grant. This grant had been renewed and extended to become a "National Service for Computational Chemistry Software". The grant funds infrastructure for the Working Party, a Service Manager post, a PDRA assistant post and a half-time administrator post, access to computational chemistry software and computer time at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. The principal Investigator on the first grant was Professor N.C.Handy. Currently the PI is Professor J. M. Dyke. The grant is administered by Imperial College London. Click here for more information on the National Service.

The Working Party consists of representatives from all the chemistry departments at UK Universities, together with other invited interested parties. There are also representatives from EPSRC and from the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.

The main function of the Working Party is the evaluation, acquisition, implementation, maintenance and documentation of computational chemistry software for the UK chemistry community.

The allocation of Service resources is by a peer review process. The peer review panel for the National Service is chosen primarily from the membership of the Working Party. The Working Party also prepares an Annual Report which is submitted to EPSRC.

The Working Party keeps its membership informed about recent developments in computational chemistry and makes recommendations concerning the purchase of chemistry software. Occasional courses and conferences are arranged to disseminate information to a wider community.

From 2007, the Working Party meeting will become a joint meeting with the NSCCS User meeting. We hope this new format will be of benefit to both CCWP members and NSCCS users alike.

Members may bring guests to the meetings or send deputees if unable to attend.