International Spectroscopy Community Gathering in Istanbul: World-Leading Scientists to Meet at the IKU-SPECTRA International Congress on Spectroscopy
Hosted by Istanbul Kültür University (IKU), the International Congress on Spectroscopy, to be held on 21–22 May 2026, will bring together leading scientists, as well as representatives from public institutions and industry, in Istanbul. The congress will also serve as the official kick-off event of the Spectroscopy@IKU ERA-Chair Project, supported under the European Union’s Horizon Europe WIDERA ERA-Chairs Program.
The scientific program of the International Congress on Spectroscopy stands out with a distinguished lineup of speakers recognized worldwide as leading authorities in their fields. Invited speakers include 2019 Nobel Laureate in Physics Prof. Didier Queloz, Prof. Peter Atkins, a pioneer in physical chemistry and science communication, Spectroscopy@IKU ERA-Chair Holder Prof. Rui Fausto, internationally recognized authority in Raman spectroscopy and biological imaging Prof. Małgorzata Barańska and Prof. Wei-Tao Yang, renowned for his work in theoretical and computational chemistry.
With a total budget of €2.5 million, Spectroscopy@IKU is the first and only ERA-Chair project in Türkiye funded under the HORIZON-WIDERA-2023-TALENTS-01 call. The project has played a key driving role in the establishment of the IKU-SPECTRA Molecular Sciences and Spectroscopy Applied Research Center at Istanbul Kültür University. With its interdisciplinary structure bringing together physics, chemistry and materials science, the Center aims to host advanced research in molecular spectroscopy.
IKU-SPECTRA holds a strategic position not only nationally but also regionally and internationally, with Türkiye’s first matrix isolation spectroscopy facility, modern Raman imaging laboratories and single-crystal X-ray diffraction infrastructure. The Center conducts advanced experimental and computational research across a broad spectrum of fields, ranging from pharmaceutical materials to environmental and atmospheric chemistry.
Beyond scientific excellence, the congress aims to strengthen academia-industry-public sector collaborations, enhance the international visibility of Türkiye’s scientific capacity and provide an inspiring platform for young researchers.
The International Congress on Spectroscopy and the launch event of the Spectroscopy@IKU ERA-Chair Project will make significant contributions to Türkiye’s integration into the European Research Area, the strengthening of advanced research infrastructures, and the development of a sustainable research ecosystem focused on scientific excellence.
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