Background and Ethos of the Meeting

​In the late 1970’s, a number of UK chemists decided there was a need for a meeting which would emphasise synthetic organic chemistry. It was intended that the meeting would be informal and relaxed, in a similar way to the Gordon conferences. The first meeting was held in 1980. It has been lost in the mists of time as to who were the original organisers behind the meeting, but Garry Proctor and Alan Davidson (both at Cardiff) certainly played a major role in the early organisation. Key organisers throughout the 90’s and 00’s were Bernard Rawlings and Dave Kelly – the latter now remembered in the “Dave Kelly Cup” which is awarded to the most thought-provoking talk of the conference, as awarded by the current holder. ​​

 

The Gregynog Synthesis Workshop is an annual meeting held at Gregynog Hall, Newtown, at the end of summer and runs from Wednesday evening to Friday lunchtime for about 60 participants (typically 45 academics and 15 industrialists). The meeting is grounded in informality, curiosity and scientific communication. It is suitable for anyone with an interest in organic chemistry in the broadest sense (biological, catalysis, physical organic, supramolecular, target-oriented, etc.), and is aimed at bringing together new academics within the organic community,  peers at an equivalent stage in industry and more established colleagues who are still ‘young at heart’. Gregynog is a closed meeting which offers the chance to get supportive feedback from 50 peers on new, on-going and unusual results. With the exception of the plenary speakers, all talks will be at the board i.e. “chalk and talk” style - this helps to facilitate discussion and is in keeping with the informal style of the meeting.

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Venue

Gregynog Hall was the conference centre of the University Wales but has now become its own Charitable Trust. It is located some 15 miles from Newtown, Powys in the centre of Wales. This magnificent house situated in hundreds of acres of grounds, provides a unique, secluded setting. Accommodation ranges from modern, hotel-style en suite rooms, through the magnificent bedrooms of the original millionaire owners, to study bedrooms and small dormitories.

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Pricing

The Gregynog Synthesis Workshop runs at break even and registration includes bed and board for the entire meeting.

Academic - £450

Academic (before 31st May) - £375

Early career academic (for first two meetings) - £360

Industrialist - £495 (+ £495 sponsorship per organisation)

Register here - https://forms.office.com/e/8heD2WY2ed   

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Organisation

The Gregynog Synthesis Workshop is managed by a small team of enthusiastic academics.

• Lead Organiser - Dr Amanda Jarvis (University of Edinburgh)

• Supporting Organisers - Dr Louis Morrill (University of Bath) and Dr Sam Thompson (University of Southampton)