Chemists from around the world who attended the conference addressed a number of issues, particularly environmental problems associated with the misuse of technology such as the proliferation of chemical weapons.

De Paula was selected to attend the meeting in Germany by the National Research Council because of his achievements in the classroom and laboratory and for his commitment to international issues. In 1998 he received the prestigious Henry Dreyfus Teacher Scholar Award for his strong teaching skills as well as his research on plant photosynthesis and models of photodynamic therapy, a new type of treatment used to kill tumor cells. Born in Brazil and educated mostly in the United States, de Paula is a member of both the American and Brazilian Chemical Societies.

At the international union meeting, he participated in a committee on the teaching of chemistry and helped organize next year's conference for the organization, CHEMRAWN (Chemical Research Applied to World Needs). CHEMRAWN is a world-wide gathering of chemists who discuss educational, industrial, social, and academic issues pertaining to chemistry.

In the spring of 1999 de Paula also was elected Chemistry Councilor to the Council on Undergraduate Research, an organization which promotes research at undergraduate institutions. As Chemistry Councilor, he will deal closely with the federal government to procure funding for undergraduate research.