Introduction 

National Chemistry Week is the major public outreach program of The Chemical Institute of Canada (CIC). Its scope and sponsorship are expanded annually. The success of NCW depends on you. Now more than ever we can work together, chemists, chemical engineers and chemical technologists to bring our message to the public that chemistry is everywhere and that it is indeed vital to our future. 

The National Chemistry Week (NCW) Resource Book is designed to help Local Sections, Universities, Student Chapters and other interested groups organize and stage effective activities and events to celebrate chemistry across Canada. 

To assist you with the task at hand, the Resource Book contains a list of suggested activities that were successful and well received in previous NCWs and tips on how to initiate and organize your own events. I wish to thank all those who shared their thoughts and ideas with us. Now, here is your opportunity not only to build on past successes but to implement your own ideas. Take advantage of the Resource Book, but also, use your imagination and creativity to develop new activities and novel approaches to stage events. We need your good ideas to enhance the impact of NCW on the general public and to expand and improve the resource material. 

To assist with planning, a National NCW Team (http://ncwsnc.cheminst.ca/2002_team.html) has been assembled. You will also find the names of persons who are staging similar events (http://ncwsnc.cheminst.ca/2002_ncwactivities.html). In addition, the National Office is anxious to provide any help through the NCW Manager (gwilbee@cheminst.ca). Please do not hesitate to contact any of these individuals if you need assistance with conducting events or if you have ideas to share with us. 

Our goal is to have 100% participation from Canadian Local Sections, Universities, Colleges, Technical Schools and Student Chapters in NCW activities. Only you can help us to achieve this goal by making NCW such a resounding success that volunteers, organizations and the general public from every corner of Canada will be lining up to share in the excitement of this celebration of the chemical sciences. 

Our sincere thanks for your commitment and dedicated, hard work and best wishes for a successful NCW.

 
The NCW National Team