Speakers

Prof. Rui Fausto is a leading expert in molecular spectroscopy, photochemistry and computational chemistry. He serves as the ERA Chair Holder of the European Union’s Horizon Europe WIDERA Programme supported Spectroscopy@IKU Project at Istanbul Kültür University. Prof. Fausto is a Full Professor at the University of Coimbra, Portugal and a senior researcher at the Centre for Chemistry of Coimbra (CQC). His pioneer research combines experimental spectroscopy and quantum-chemical modeling to study the structure, dynamics, and photochemistry of isolated molecules and different types of materials. Prof. Fausto is the President of the European Congress on Molecular Spectroscopy (EUCMOS) series of meetings and serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Photochemistry and Spectroscopy journal. He has authored over 500 scientific publications and delivered numerous invited lectures worldwide. Through the Spectroscopy@IKU ERA-Chair initiative, he leads the development of IKU-SPECTRA Molecular Sciences & Spectroscopy Applied Research Center, established at IKU to promote international collaboration and excellence in molecular spectroscopy.

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Prof. Peter Atkins is an internationally renowned physical chemist whose contributions to chemical thermodynamics and molecular quantum mechanics have shaped modern chemical education. He is an Emeritus Professor of Physical Chemistry at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Lincoln College, where he taught and conducted research for many years. Prof. Atkins is the author of over 70 influential books, including Atkins’ Physical Chemistry and Molecular Quantum Mechanics, which are among the most widely used textbooks worldwide. His writings, translated into numerous languages, have played a central role in defining the conceptual foundations of physical chemistry for generations of students and researchers. Beyond his academic work, Prof. Atkins is celebrated for his exceptional ability to communicate complex scientific ideas with clarity, making him one of the most prominent science communicators of his time. His contributions continue to inspire the global scientific community and strengthen the connection between chemistry, education, and public understanding of science.

Prof. Jan Lundell is a distinguished expert in molecular spectroscopy and low temperature physical chemistry at the University of Helsinki, Finland. His research bridges fundamental chemistry, spectroscopy, and light–matter interactions, with particular emphasis on chemically relevant systems studied under controlled low temperature conditions. His work covers novel noble gas compounds, matrix isolation spectroscopy, light induced chemistry, and the role of weak intermolecular interactions in governing molecular structure and reactivity. Using a combination of experimental and theoretical approaches, he investigates how light and thermal radiation modify molecular behavior, providing key insights into isolated molecules and low temperature solids. Prof. Lundell also serves as Director of LUMA Centre Finland, contributing to national science education and outreach, and is currently the President of the Finnish Chemical Society. He is widely recognized for his long standing contributions to spectroscopy and chemical research in Finland and internationally.

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Prof. Małgorzata Baranska is an internationally recognized scientist specializing in vibrational spectroscopy and Raman imaging. She serves as a Full Professor at the Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University (Kraków, Poland) and leads the Raman Imaging Group, one of Europe’s foremost research teams in the field of bioanalytical spectroscopy. Prof. Baranska’s research focuses on the application of Raman and vibrational spectroscopy to biological systems, including cells, tissues and natural products, as well as the development of advanced imaging and chemometric methods for biomedical and pharmaceutical studies. Prof. Baranska has authored over 300 peer-reviewed publications. She is an active member of numerous international scientific societies and serves on editorial boards of leading spectroscopy journals. Her work bridges chemistry, biology and medicine - demonstrating the power of spectroscopic techniques in life sciences.

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Prof. Weitao Yang is a world-leading theoretical chemist known for his groundbreaking contributions to density functional theory (DFT), quantum chemistry, and multi-scale modeling of complex systems. By developing accurate simulations for large new theoretical frameworks that connect electronic-structure theory with molecular spectroscopy and biochemistry. Prof. Yang’s research has profoundly shaped the understanding of electronic correlation, charge transfer, and reactivity in molecules and materials. His seminal work on linear-scaling DFT methods, embedding techniques, and hybrid quantum–classical approaches has enabled accurate simulations of large molecular and condensed-phase systems that were previously computationally inaccessible. Author of more than 400 peer-reviewed papers, Prof. Yang is among the most cited chemists worldwide. His contributions have earned him numerous distinctions, including fellowships of the American Physical Society (APS) and the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC).

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Prof. Mustafa Soylak is a distinguished academic in the field of analytical chemistry and is widely recognized for his significant contributions to chemical sciences in Türkiye and internationally. He is a faculty member at Erciyes University and a Member of the Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA). Throughout his academic career, Prof. Soylak has received several prestigious honors, including the TÜBİTAK Encouragement Award, the TÜBİTAK Science Award, and the İlim Yayma Award. He has also been supported under the TÜBİTAK 2247/A National Outstanding Researchers Program. Prof. Soylak has authored numerous scientific publications and has made valuable contributions to analytical chemistry through his research, academic leadership and scientific collaborations.

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