Learn more about interesting chemistry related topics from interviews with young professionals and professors. Also hear something about the latest news in science in general.
In this episode, our host Konstantina Armadorou interviews Prof. Sam Stranks about all things optoelectronics. They discuss the journey from fundamental research to real-world products, and the future of the field in clean energy and medical imaging.
Prof. Stranks is Professor of Energy Materials and Optoelectronics in the Department of Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology and a Cavendish Joint Member in the Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge. His research focuses on the optical and electronic properties of emerging semiconductors, particularly halide perovskites, for low-cost technologies such as solar cells, LEDs, and radiation detectors. He is also co-founder of two startups, Swift Solar and Clarity Sensors.
Host, Intro, Outro: Konstantina Armadorou
Writing: Konstantina Armadorou
Editing: Jasper Kluten, Jaspen Hahn, Konstantina Armadorou
28 Nov 2025
International Chemistry Olympiads
In this episode, our host Marie-Désirée Schlemper-Scheidt interviews Prof. Martin Putala about his experience as both a coach and member of the Scientific Committee of the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO).
Prof. Martin Putala is the Head of the Chemistry Department at the University of Bratislava and has played a pivotal role in establishing the presence of Slovakia in the Chemistry Olympiads, including organizing the 50th edition of the Olympiad in 2018. He has also been a long-standing figure in coaching the Slovakian students participating in the Olympiads.
Read more about the 50th anniversary of the Olympiad here: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.7b00640 (https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.7b00640)
Host: Marie-Désirée Schlemper-Scheidt Intro and Outro: Carl SchneiderWriting: Marie-Désirée Schlemper-Scheidt and Carl SchneiderEditing: Jasper Hahn
28 May 2025
Modeling molecules with quantum chemistry - Prof. Grimme
Professor Stefan Grimme discusses current trends in computational chemistry and potential collaborations with Konstantina Armadorou in this interview.
29 Aug 2024
All about IUPAC
In this episode our host Carl Schneider interviews IUPAC’s
president-elect Mary Garson (https://scmb.uq.edu.au/profile/144/mary-garson)about all things IUPAC.
Mary Garson is an emeritus Professor at the University of
Queensland, current vice-president of IUPAC and president-elect for the upcoming legislative period. She has been a long-standing figure in IUPAC and has shaped the way we know IUPAC today. In this episode, Carl and Mary talk about how IUPAC as a global organization ensures its impact on the local level, how it fosters the next generation of researchers and so much more.
Read more about IUPAC’s “Global Women’s Breakfast”, one of Mary’s closest to heart projects, here (https://iupac.org/gwb/)!
31 May 2024
Science Policy
In this episode, we delve into the intricate world of science policy and explore avenues for greater collaboration between scientists and policymakers.
To address this complex topic, Marie Perrin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marie-perrin-reecover/?originalSubdomain=ch) sits down with two distinguished experts to unravel the complexities and synergies between science and policy. From the science side, Prof. Jovana Milić (https://jovanamilic.com/biography/), assistant professor at the university of Fribourg (Switzerland) and member of the Swiss Young Academy (https://swissyoungacademy.ch/en) and Global Young Academy (https://globalyoungacademy.net/), and from the policy side Marton Kottmayer (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marton-kottmayer/), science communication and policy officer at the European Chemical Society (https://www.euchems.eu/) (EuChemS).
Whether you’re a passionate scientist, a policy enthusiast, or simply curious about the forces shaping our world, this episode promises to ignite your intellect and inspire action.
During this conversation we cover:
1:55 What is science policy
3:55 How is EuChemS involved in advising policy makers?
7:06 What are the motivations and challenges for scientists to be actively involved in science policy
10:42 Understanding the complexity of policy making: scientists are only one of many stakeholders.
15:48 Opportunities for early carrier scientists to be part of the conversation.
24:50 Why it matters, or how policies affect science at every level.
33:31 Where to start; how can I be involved?
If you want to go further, you can read about « The Role of Early-Career Chemists in European Policy-Making (https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202100167) » and « Engaging Early-Career Scientists in Global Policy-Making (https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202217841) » and check out the EuChemS magazine (https://www.magazine.euchems.eu/)to get the latest science policy news from Brussels. Moreover, the EuChemS workshops targeting the selected elements carbon (https://youtu.be/Ug4f2VDynxM?si=BVZTmPcEV8_z9d8l), lithium (https://youtu.be/-U_mOh90IKA?si=sA08vM3ZXBmYXjot), nitrogen (https://youtu.be/ham_lQucyzg?si=xJY_l0veNlXv8Mxq) and phosphorus (https://youtu.be/DDq3_DRx0Sw?si=WiycMPv140gzo71_) can be watched online! And for a more active involvement you can always find the public consultations (https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives_fr?feedbackStatus=OPEN) from the European Commission online.
21 Mar 2024
IUPAC Top 10 Emerging Technologies
In this episode Carl Schneider interviews IUPAC’s past-president Prof. Dr. Javier García Martinez (https://www.linkedin.com/in/javiergarciamartinez/) about the 2023 “IUPAC Top Ten”. Javier and Carl talk about the origin of this tradition, what concerns the chemists of the world, and how IUPAC as a global organization encourages local acting.
For a further look at last year’s finalists you can read up on them here (https://www.linkedin.com/in/javiergarciamartinez/).
Until the 31st of March you can also submit your candidates here (https://www.cognitoforms.com/IUPAC1/_2024TopTenEmergingTechnologiesInChemistry) to be considered for the 2024 edition of the Top Ten.
You always wanted to know something else about IUPAC? Now, is your chance! We are planning a follow-up episode to talk with Javier about IUPAC in general and we invite you to submit your questions (https://forms.gle/kqK8Vhpy5Ab48H9G6) to us beforehand.
4 Dec 2023
A career in science communication
In this episode, we dive into an under-explored yet thrilling career path for chemists: becoming a full-time science communicator. To discuss this topic, Marie Perrin interviews not one but two successful science communicators, Rute Pereira (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rute-pereira-54a0b5183/), founder of amazingchemist (https://www.amazingchemist.com/) and social media editor for the ESA and Fernando Gomollón Bel (https://www.linkedin.com/in/gomobel/), founder of the science communication startup Agata. (https://agata.agency/)
During this conversation we cover:
2:18 What does a typical day in the life of a science communicator look like?
6:08 How can one become a full time science communicator ? 9:47 How can one learn about the tools commonly used in science communication?
17:51 What are the most effective media to reach out to the public about science?
24:24 What are the rewards and challenges of being in science communication?
37:03 How can mentoring help you in defining your dream career path and how can a network like the EYCN enable that?
47:20 Take home message from our guests.
If you want to seize the opportunity of building strong mentoring connections and friendships, don’t forget to sign up for the ECC9 (https://euchems2024.org/) in Dublin! Application (https://euchems2024.org/programme/call-for-abstracts/) for abstracts are open until the 8th of December.
16 Aug 2022
Switching to Industry - All You Need to Know
In this episode, we looked into the private sector as a potential career path.
For that, Katarina Josifovska interviewed our guest Dr. David Giltner, and discussed the switch into industry by providing a great overview into the company mindset and by giving many helpful tips that could ease your transition.
29 Apr 2022
Carbon Turnover in the Deep Biosphere
In our latest podcast episode, we are discussing Carbon turnover in the deep biosphere, its relevance to modern society, how it takes place and how it influences life on the surface.
For that, Katarina Josifovska interviewed Prof. Dr. Alexander Probst, associate professor for "Aquatic Microbial Ecology" at the University of Duisburg-Essen
28 Mar 2022
The importance of electrocatalysis for sustainable energy
In this episode, we focus on the importance of electrocatalysis in general and water splitting in particular. For that, Katarina Josifovska interviewed Prof. Dr. Kai Exner, an expert in this field.
Dr. Exner explains the fundamentals of electrocatalysis and why it is popular nowadays. Further, we discuss the oxygen evolution reaction, OER, as the limiting process in electrolyzers. Dr. Exner gave an overview of challenges in the OER, ranging from the atomic to the industrial scale.
6 Feb 2022
How to organize your PhD
In this episode we are talking about the path towards completing a doctoral degree. Our guest, Dr. Daniel Friedrich, provides some key points along the road to obtain a PhD.
He highlights the importance of taking the time to make a detailed plan containing the incremental steps, which lead you to your goal. Moreover, he suggests building a professional network and develop transferable skills, which will help you in the future stages of your career. Furthermore, certain problems that can occur during a PhD are discussed to give some advice on how students can approach these challenges.
Dr. Daniel Friedrich is an expert in project and self-management within and beyond the science community. He gained experience as a founder, taught as a Teach First Fellow and is currently working as a data scientist at the largest German portal for teaching materials. Since 2019, he has been bringing his experience as a researcher, doctoral advisor, and university lecturer into ImpulsPlus (https://www.impulsplus.com/).
9 Nov 2021
How to organize your Postdoc
Today, we are talking about doing your Postdoc and everything around it with Dr. Torsten John who is interviewed by our German delegate and Science Team Leader Sebastian Balser.
Dr. Torsten John, has finished his PhD in 2020 with summa cum laude at Leipzig University in Germany and is currently doing a Postdoc at MIT as a Feodor Lynen Research Fellow sponsored by the Humboldt Foundation.
Besides his research achievements, Dr. John has also been a board member of the German, European, and now International Younger Chemists Network. In this interview, he shares his insights into the planning, application, and financing of a Postdoc position in academia.
4 Jun 2021
The UN Sustainability Development Goals and the Role of Chemistry for a Sustainable Society
The United Nations General Assembly adopted a new sustainable development agenda, which includes 17 sustainable development goals to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all. If achieved, these 17 goals will fundamentally change the world for the better.
The chemical enterprise has a unique role to play in reaching these goals. Chemistry offers a broad spectrum of products and services essential to our daily lives that are safe, sustainable, and environmentally sound.
Therefore, we wanted to know more how young chemists can contribute to this and talked with Prof. David Cole-Hamilton, former president of the European Chemical Society and Professor Emeritus at the University of St. Andrews.
1 Feb 2021
Synthesizing valuable chemicals from waste materials - EYCA interview Dr. Emilia Paone
In our new series, we interview the winners of the prestigious European Young Chemists' Award 2020 to discuss with them their research and also ask them for advice for other young chemists.
Today, we are talking about how important chemicals for industrial processes can be synthesized in a more sustainable way without relying on petrochemical resources.
For this, our Rumanian delegate Robert Țincu interviewed the Silver medal winner at the PhD Level, Dr. Emilia Paone.
25 Jan 2021
Enabling chemical reactions with sound - EYCA interview Dr. Gregory Chatel
In our new series, we interview the winners of the prestigious European Young Chemists' Award 2020 to discuss with them their research and also ask them for advice for other young chemists.
Today, we are talking about how we can enable novel reactions with the application of ultrasound, which could allow for more eco-friendly processes in the chemical industry.
For this, our Austrian delegate Miguel Steiner interviewed the Silver medal winner at the Early Career Research Level, Dr. Gregory Chatel.
18 Jan 2021
Detecting water pollutants automatically on-site - EYCA Interview Dr. Eoin Murray
In our new series, we interview the winners of the prestigious European Young Chemists' Award 2020 to discuss with them their research and also ask them for advice for other young chemists.
Today, we are talking about a new device that allows to monitor nitrate and nitrite levels in environmental and industrial waters automatically and periodically directly at the water source without expensive laboratory equipment.
For this, our Dutch delegate Koen van den Helder interviewed the Gold medal winner at the PhD Level, Dr. Eoin Murray.
11 Jan 2021
Antimicrobial thin-films and their application possibilities - EYCA Interview Dr. Maria Chiara Sportelli
In our new series, we interview the winners of the prestigious European Young Chemists' Award 2020 to discuss with them their research and also ask them for advice for other young chemists.
Today, we are talking about thin films that have antimicrobial properties and how they are synthesized, analyzed, and applied on various substances.
For this, our Belgium delegate Nathan Carpentier interviewed the Gold medal winner at the Early Career Research Level, Dr. Maria Chiara Sportelli.
28 Aug 2020
Microplastics - Definition, Problems and Solutions
Today, we will discuss with Dr. Kelada what the correct definition of microplastics is, how they’re formed and advantages or disadvantages associated with them. Furthermore, we are talking about transparent wood as a novel building material, the ability to replace the transistors in our computer with single molecules and the effect of family income on children's brain development.
30 Jun 2020
CO2 Reduction, a Possible Solution for the Climate Crisis?
Could we produce useful chemicals while lowering the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere? In this month's episode, we are interviewing Prof. Victor Mougel from ETH Zurich to answer this and many more questions. We talk about the basics of CO2 reduction, the different approaches and their advantages and challenges. Furthermore, we are talking about the encryption of information in DNA, a new synthesis strategy to develop more efficient pharmaceuticals, and a new high throughput methodology for drug discovery.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
9,747
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 33 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
9
Social presence
0
YouTube
74
Engagement
68
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