The Cambridge-Warsaw Young Chemists' Symposium was held in Cambridge from 13th-15th September 2014, focussing on the broad range of chemistry being undertaken at leading institutes in Warsaw and the Department.
The main themes of the Symposium were the synthesis of small molecules, materials and nanotechnology. Lecture sessions featured around twenty short presentations by young Polish and UK chemists, as well as plenary lectures by invited speakers from Poland and the UK. In addition, a large number of posters were presented. The programme was supported through NOBLESSE (NanOtechnology, Biomaterials and aLternative Energy Source for ERA integration), an EU award to the Polish Institute of Physical Chemistry at Warsaw designed to improve communication and integration of the Warsaw institute with other leading EU departments.
Of the 120 delegates, around half were from the UK and half from Poland. The Polish contingent was hosted in Jesus College, with social events being organised throughout the University. The conference proved highly successful in its aim of furthering collaboration between the principle Warsaw institutes (including The Institute of Physical Chemistry and The Technical University of Warsaw) and Cambridge University, as well as facilitating the already active collaborations which have been established within the NOBLESSE scheme. A future conference is being planned for next year.