18th International Conference on Electroanalysis (ESEAC 2020/2022)
At a Glance
Section titled âAt a Glanceâ| Metadata | Details |
|---|---|
| Publication Date | 2023-04-12 |
| Journal | Electroanalysis |
| Authors | Rasa PauliukaitÄ |
| Institutions | Center for Physical Sciences and Technology |
Abstract
Section titled âAbstractâThe 18th International Conference on Electroanalysis ESEAC 2020 was postponed twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic and finally took place in Vilnius this year on 5-9 June 2022 at the Life Sciences Centre of Vilnius University. FTMC was also a co-organiser. The International Scientific and Organising Committee of the conference was made up of electroanalysts from different countries: JiĆi Barek (Czech Republic), Anastasios Economou (Greece), Elena Ferapontova (Denmark), Christine Kranz (Germany), Alexander Kuhn (France), Rasa Pauliukaite (Lithuania) - Chair of the Committee, JosĂ© Pingarron (Spain), Wolfgang Schuhmann (Germany), and Joseph Wang (USA). Despite the pandemic of recent years, the scientific level of ESEAC 2022 was, as always, absolutely high. Although the conference itself was devoted to electroanalysis, there were also presentations on batteries, spectroscopy, laser surface processing, etc., as all of these are related to the development and research of autonomous electrochemical sensing systems. This conference was small in terms of the number of participants, which was influenced by both the pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A total of 140 researchers from 23 countries attended the conference. On the instructions of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, representatives of the Russian Federation were not allowed to attend events in Lithuania. Unfortunately, the plenary speakers were unable to travel due to the current situation and all their presentations were broadcast remotely. Some of them gave their presentations after midnight in their countryâs time. The participants enjoyed 4 plenary presentations: by Prof. Sauliaus Juodkazis (Australia) âInfrared spectroscopy: fingerprinting spectral range, resolution, sensitivityâ; by Prof. Lanqun Mao (China) âIn vivo electrochemistry: from electrocatalysis to sensingâ; by Prof. Shelley Minteer (USA) âEnzymatic bioelectrocatalysis for energy and synthesis applicationsâ; and by Prof. Patrick R. Unwin (UK) âUp close: new ways to see electrodes and electrified interfacesâ. There were also 7 keynote presentations by world-renowned scientists: Prof. Eric Bakker (Switzerland), Prof. Susana InĂ©s CĂłrdoba de Torresi (Brazil), Prof. Dermot Diamond (Ireland), Prof. Ritu Kataki (UK), Prof. Gediminas Niaura (Lithuania), Prof. James F. Rusling (USA), and Prof. Jan Vacek (Czech Republic). In addition, there were 13 invited lectures presented by most of the scientists closely associated with the ESEAC community: Prof. Christopher M.A. Brett (Portugal), Dr. Victor Diculescu (Romania), Dr. Samo HoÄevar (Slovenia), Prof. Lars Jeuken (UK), Prof. Anthony Killard (UK), Prof. Christos Kokkinos (Greece), Prof. Christine Kranz (Germany), Prof. Fred Lisdat (Germany), Prof. Rodrigo Munoz (Brazil), Prof. ArĆ«nas RamanaviÄius (Lithuania), Prof. Wolfgang Schuhmann (Germany), Prof. Manel del Valle (Spain) and Dr. Edita VoitechoviÄ (Lithuania). In addition to the above-mentioned invited presentations, there were 41 oral and 73 poster presentations by both young and experienced electroanalysts. 5 exhibitors attended the conference. ESEAC 2022 offered more opportunities than usual for young researchers to participate more actively. One of these opportunities was to give a short poster presentation of up to 3 minutes in front of an audience. And one novelty is when keynote speakers prepared a poster presentation and presented it to PhD students and recent PhDs, where young researchers could have a personal talk with professors without fear. Participants had to fill in a questionnaire to evaluate the professorsâČ presentations. In addition to the scientific part, ESEAC conferences have a long tradition of getting to know the culture of the host country and informally establishing new contacts with each other. ESEAC 2022 was no exception. The conference started with a meeting of the participants at Vilnius Town Hall (Figure 1), where they were welcomed by the Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania, chemist Prof. RamĆ«nas SkaudĆŸius, and the President of the Academy of Sciences Prof. Juras Banys. Guests enjoyed informal networking with one-bite snacks and a glass of wine. The VU student folklore ensemble âRatilioâ presented Lithuanian folk costumes, national folk songs typical of different regions and finally invited the scientists to dance Lithuanian dances together. On the first day of the scientific presentations, the conference participants (Figure 2) were greeted by the Directors of the Life Sciences Center and the Center of Physical Sciences and Technology - Prof. Daumantas Matulis and Prof. Gintaras ValuĆĄis, respectively, as well as the member of the local organising committee Prof. Gintaras ValinÄius. who wished them interesting presentations, great questions, and new opportunities for cooperation. Prof Anthony Killard passed the greeting words on behalf of ESEAC President Prof. Malcolm Smyth. On the evening of June 6, âGo Vilniusâ gave the participants the opportunity to get to know the Old Town of Vilnius. Conference opening ceremony at the Town Hall in Vilnius. Conference photo at the venue. The biggest cultural event was the excursion to Trakai on the afternoon of 8 June. The guests visited Trakai Castle, explored its rooms (Figure 3), and listened to the lecture âTrakai in Lithuania and Lithuania in Trakaiâ given by the laureate of the Lithuanian National Science Prize, historian, Prof. Darius Baronas. After the lecture, in one of the old rooms of Trakai Castle, various flavours of kibbins and natural broth were served to get acquainted with Karaite cuisine. The participants walked around the city centre and at the appointed time were ferried by boat to the other side of Lake GalvÄ, to UĆŸutrakis, where they visited the UĆŸutrakis Manor and enjoyed a gala dinner at the cafĂ© âFransuaâ. During the dinner, the participants were entertained by a string quartet from the National Opera and Ballet Theatre. The organisers are very grateful to the Trakai District Municipality and UAB BioanalisÄs sistemos. Excursion to the Trakai Castle. The young scientists took part in several competitions: 1) the Best Poster Presentation Prize, awarded by the journal Micromashines (MDPI); 2) the Best Oral Presentation Prize, awarded by the journal Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry (Springer), and 3) the Best Oral Presentation Prize for a 3-Minute Poster Presentation, awarded by UAB BioanalisÄs sistemos. In addition, the students had the opportunity to evaluate the presentations of the professors, for which the organisers also provided prizes of Lithuanian souvenirs. The prizes for the Best Poster Presentation went to Rafael Trivella Pacheco da Silva (Brazil) - 1st prize (Figure 4); Vytautas Ćœutautas (Lithuania) - 2nd prize; and Fiona Moore (UK) - 3rd prize. The winners of the Best Oral Presentation prizes were Katarina NovÄiÄ (Czech Republic) - 1st prize; Colm McKeever (Ireland) - 2nd prize. The winners of the Best Oral Presentation prizes for the 3-Minute Poster Presentation were Alexandros Lazanas (Greece) - 1st prize; Marta Vegas Garcia (Spain) - 2nd prize, and Anca Aldea (Romania) - 3rd prize. Awards during Gala Dinner in UĆŸutrakis, cafĂ© âFransuaâ. Among the professors, Dermot Diamond won the most - 4 prizes (Best of the Best; Best Group Leader; Most Experienced Scientist; Professor the Students Wanted to Meet in Person) and Erick Bakker with 3 prizes (Most Serious Answer; Shortest Answer; Best Team Leader). JiĆi Barek, Christopher M.A. Brett, and Alexander Kuhn received 1 prize each, for the Most Preferred Dissertation Board Member, the Funniest Answer, and the Most Interesting Presentation, respectively. As usual, this Special Issue of Electroanalysis is devoted to ESEAC 2020/2022. The next ESEAC 2024 will be organized by Fred Lisdat and Christine Kranz in Ulm, Germany. The Local Organizing Committee expressed great thanks to all sponsors, volunteers, âCreativaâ and all participants for the successful conference.