This special issue of Science China Chemistry is dedicated to the International Year of Chemistry (IYC) 2011, celebrating the event in China. Scientists from 18 countries contributed 28 papers, highlighting the theme "Chemistry—our life, our future." The authors include students, members of national academies of sciences, fellows of the British and Canadian Royal Societies, and two Nobel Laureates. The papers cover fundamental chemistry, the chemical bases of life processes, and their potential applications. Science China and its sister journal Chinese Science Bulletin were founded in 1950. Over the past 61 years, they have published some of China's best papers and most important scientific research. In chemistry and related areas, these include the total synthesis of crystalline bovine insulin in 1965, the total synthesis of yeast alanine transfer RNA in 1978, and high Tc superconductivity of strontium (barium)-lanthanum-copper oxides in 1987. In recent years, Science China Chemistry has taken steps to become more international, publishing special issues on Chinese-French Communications in Chemistry and papers from the Sino-US Chemistry Professors Conferences. The year 2011 is also the 100th anniversary of the Nobel Chemistry Prize awarded to Madame Marie Curie. Many female scientists contributed to this issue, including Carol Fierke, Mina Han, and Nobel Laureate Ada Yonath. IYC 2011 highlights the fact that all countries are members of the world community. We face many common challenges like developing new energy sources, conserving limited natural resources, strengthening environmental protection, increasing food safety, and furthering public health, all of which require chemistry to help find solutions. By working together, we can strive for a better future. I would like to thank all authors and reviewers who contributed to this issue, as well as Professors Lemin Li, Ben Zhong Tang, Tao Guo, Zhen Huang, Lin Pu, Jinzhong Zhang, and Julian X.X. Zhu, who have helped make contact and suggested authors for this special issue on IYC 2011.This special issue of Science China Chemistry is dedicated to the International Year of Chemistry (IYC) 2011, celebrating the event in China. Scientists from 18 countries contributed 28 papers, highlighting the theme "Chemistry—our life, our future." The authors include students, members of national academies of sciences, fellows of the British and Canadian Royal Societies, and two Nobel Laureates. The papers cover fundamental chemistry, the chemical bases of life processes, and their potential applications. Science China and its sister journal Chinese Science Bulletin were founded in 1950. Over the past 61 years, they have published some of China's best papers and most important scientific research. In chemistry and related areas, these include the total synthesis of crystalline bovine insulin in 1965, the total synthesis of yeast alanine transfer RNA in 1978, and high Tc superconductivity of strontium (barium)-lanthanum-copper oxides in 1987. In recent years, Science China Chemistry has taken steps to become more international, publishing special issues on Chinese-French Communications in Chemistry and papers from the Sino-US Chemistry Professors Conferences. The year 2011 is also the 100th anniversary of the Nobel Chemistry Prize awarded to Madame Marie Curie. Many female scientists contributed to this issue, including Carol Fierke, Mina Han, and Nobel Laureate Ada Yonath. IYC 2011 highlights the fact that all countries are members of the world community. We face many common challenges like developing new energy sources, conserving limited natural resources, strengthening environmental protection, increasing food safety, and furthering public health, all of which require chemistry to help find solutions. By working together, we can strive for a better future. I would like to thank all authors and reviewers who contributed to this issue, as well as Professors Lemin Li, Ben Zhong Tang, Tao Guo, Zhen Huang, Lin Pu, Jinzhong Zhang, and Julian X.X. Zhu, who have helped make contact and suggested authors for this special issue on IYC 2011.