Frontiers in Photochemistry Conference

Cancun, Mexico, 18th - 21st February 2018

This new conference on the Frontiers in Photochemistry took place in Cancun, Mexico from 18 to 21 of February 2018. The significance of this meeting was evident from the many high-level speakers it attracted and the lively discussions during each session.  

The meeting was chaired by Maria Abrahamsson, associate professor at Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden and Amanda Morris, associate professor at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, US.

The speakers at the meeting represented all corners of the world and included the following senior scientists as speakers: Shane Ardo (University of California, Irvine, US), Julia Weinstein (University of Sheffield, UK), Ksenija Glusac (University of Illinois at Chicago/Argonne, US), Prashant Jain (University of Illinois, US), Oliver Wenger (University of Basel, Switzerland), Matthew Fuchter (Imperial College London, UK), Jeffrey Rack (University of New Mexico, US), Felix Castellano (North Carolina State University, US), Curtis Berlinguette (University of British Columbia, Canada), Claudia Turro (Ohio State University, US), Luis Mario Baraldo (University of Buenos Aires, Argentina), Alexis Ostrowski (Bowling Green State University, US), Frank Quina (University of São Paulo, Brazil), Michael Wasielewski (Northwestern University, US), Naomi Ginsberg (University of California, Berkeley, US) Jier Huang (Marquette University, US), Joseph Hupp (Northwestern University, US), Dongho Kim (Yonsei University, South Korea), Eric Vauthey (University of Geneva, Switzerland), Zhi-Heng Loh (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore), James Gardner (Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden), Henrik Ottosson (Uppsala University, Sweden), Igor Alabugin (Florida State University, US), Malcom Forbes (Bowling Green State University, US). In addition, the two chairs also decided to give several doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows the opportunity to talk at the meeting. It was not an easy task for the jury to select three short talk awardees - Marija Zoric (University of Illinois at Chicago), Steven Sartor (University of Colorado at Boulder) and Victor Gray (Chalmers University of Technology).

The meeting was very interactive and with a lively discussion after each talk, sometimes to the point that it was hard to stay on time. The science presented was extremely high-level, and many participants expressed a desire to come back in two years. The meeting also brought together scientists that typically don’t come together at other, more focused meetings and conferences and many new collaborations were discussed. The meeting is unique in its breadth of the scope and the participants it attracts. It does fill a need in the photochemistry community.

Things to improve for the next meeting include increasing the number of female speakers and session chairs, increasing the number participants, and increase the amount of sponsorship.   

The meeting was expertly organized and supported by Fusion Conferences, Ltd.

The conference will focus on the frontiers (or cutting-edge) of research in the photochemical sciences. Topics to be discussed are:

• Spintronics
• Photon Fusion/Singlet Fission
• Perovskites
• Energy Transfer within Metal Organic Frameworks
• Photo-acids/photo-bases and photo-proton transport

Join the conference LinkedIn group to keep up to date with announcements and latest news concerning the conference.

Target Audience

Scientists working in the broad field of photochemical sciences will be interested in the conference. This may include those from academia, national laboratories, research institutes, and/or related industries. We expect a good mix of both young, emerging chemists and established leaders in the field. Additionally, efforts will be undertaken to provide representation across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

Learning Objectives

1. Introduce the newest advances (discovery, approaches, etc) in the field of photochemistry through presentations (oral and poster) and lively discussion.
2. Develop a deeper understanding of photochemical principles, current research challenges, and the future of the field.
3. Provide an environment for cross-talk between photochemical disciplines and to promote collaborations.

Student Offer

Take advantage of this fantastic opportunity for students! Register an academic at the standard rate of $1,798.00 and bring a student for only $745. Unfortunately, Postdocs are not eligible. Both registration packages include; accommodation for the 18th, 19th, 20th February 2018 (on a shared basis for students, note guest rooms are open plan) and a 24hour all-inclusive food and beverage package for the conference period. Once you have registered and paid in full, please contact Meredith Willmott (Meredith@fusion-conferences.com) to obtain a special registration link for your student.

Confirmed Invited Speakers 

Shane Ardo (University of California Irvine)
PROTONIC SOLAR CELLS BY DYE SENSITIZATION OF PASSIVE ION-EXCHANGE MEMBRANES WITH PHOTOACIDS

Luis Mario Baraldo (University of Buenos Aires)
EXCITED-STATE DYNAMICS IN CYANIDE-BRIDGED RUTHENIUM POLYPYRIDINES

Curtis Berlinguette (The University of British Columbia)
BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN THREE NOBEL PRIZES FOR ELECTRON TRANSFER

Felix N. Castellano (North Carolina State University)

Jennifer Dionne (Stanford University)
INSIDE OUT: VISUALIZING PLASMONICALLY-POWERED PHOTOCHEMICAL PROCESSES WITHIN INDIVIDUAL NANOSTRUCTURES

Matthew Fuchter (Imperial College London)
AZOHETEROARENES: NOVEL PHOTOSWITCHES WITH TUNABLE PROPERTIES AND MULTIPLE FUNCTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

James Gardner (KTH Royal Institute of Technology)

Naomi S. Ginsberg (University of California, Berkeley)

Ksenija Glusac (University of Illinois at Chicago/Argonne)
METAL-FREE MODELS FOR OXYGEN EVOLUTION AND REDUCTION CATALYSIS

Jier Huang (Marquette University)
IN SITU PROBES OF ACTIVE SPECIES IN METAL ORGANIC FRAMEWORK PHOTOCATALYSTS

Joseph T. Hupp (Northwestern University)
USING LIGHT TO MOVE EXCITONS, ELECTRONS, HOLES, AND IONS THROUGH MOFS AND MOF-SUPPORTED CATALYSTS

Prashant K. Jain (University of Illinois)
CARBON DIOXIDE TO HYDROCARBON CONVERSION ON PLASMONIC CATALYSTS

Dongho Kim (Yonsei University)
CHARACTERIZATION OF EXCITON DYNAMICS IN FUNCTIONAL Π-ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

Zhi-Heng Loh (Nanyang Technological University)

James McCusker (Michigan State University)

Alexis Ostrowski (Bowling Green State University)
HARNESSING PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOPHYSICS OF METAL COMPLEXES FOR RESPONSIVE MATERIALS

Henrik Ottosson (Uppsala University)
PUTTING BAIRD'S RULE ON EXCITED STATE AROMATICITY AND ANTIAROMATICITY INTO ACTION

Frank Quina (University of São Paulo)
EXCITED STATE PROTON TRANSFER DYNAMICS OF NATURAL PLANT PIGMENTS

Jeffrey Rack (The University of New Mexico)
ISOMERIZATION IN PHOTOCHROMIC RUTHENIUM COMPLEXES

Claudia Turro (The Ohio State University)
NEW RU(III) COMPLEXES WITH EXTENDED RED ABSORPTION FOR PHOTOINDUCED DRUG DELIVERY

Eric Vauthey (University of Geneva)
SYMMETRY-BREAKING CHARGE TRANSFER IN THE EXCITED STATE

Michael R. Wasielewski (Northwestern University)

Julia A. Weinstein (The University of Sheffield)
TOWARDS DIRECTING PHOTOINDUCED ELECTRON TRANSFER IN DONOR-BRIDGE-ACCEPTOR ASSEMBLIES WITH BOND-SPECIFIC IR-EXCITATION