News from the Section of Chemistry

The EU is investing over SEK 1.5 billion in battery research via the Battery 2030+ project, which is led by Prof. Kristina Edström at the Department of Chemistry - Ångström. The project has been going on for three years and is now moving on to the next stage. The aim is to make Europe a world leader in the development and production of batteries that are environmentally and lifetime sustainable, safe and efficient. 

A unique hybrid truck with a trailer covered in solar panels is now being tested on public roads. This is a result of a two-year research project, run by Prof. Erik Johansson at Physical Chemistry. 

The centre for life chemistry, "Chemical Mechanisms of Life", is led by Professor Ingela Lanekoff at the Department of Chemistry - BMC and is one of 15 research environments in total that are considered to have great potential for innovative research and that the Swedish Research Council (VR) has decided to finance in their excellence initiative. 

Each year, Uppsala University presents distinguished teaching awards for outstanding contributions in undergraduate education according to specific nomination categories. Senior Lecturer Christer Elvingson, Physical Chemistry, has been awarded the 2023 Distinguished Teaching Award in Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology.

Henrik Ottosson and Pia Lindberg, together with their research groups at the Department of Chemistry - Ångström, have found that isoprene - which is produced by cyanobacteria (so-called blue-green algae), with the help of sunlight, water and carbon dioxide - can be part of the solution in the search for fossil-free aviation fuel. 

Prof. Helena Danielson, researcher within the biochemistry programme at the Department of Chemistry - BMC, has been awarded with the Elder Gustaf Adolf medal in gold by the Vice-Chancellor Anders Hagfeldt. The medal is also called the Hedlinger medal after the engraver Johann Carl Hedlinger, and can be awarded to employees who have made significant contributions to Uppsala University.

Research.com has published a ranking list of the most outstanding researchers, nationally and internationally, in various research fields. Two of the researchers at the Department of Chemistry - Ångström are included in the top-15 list in Sweden, within both Chemistry and Materials science. 

Research on post-covid has made progress, and has now been able to show changes in the brain of patients suffering from post-covid. Professor Jonas Bergquist, at the Department of Chemistry - BMC, explains and answers the viewers' questions in TV4's morning show Nyhetsmorgon.

A new method for extracting hydrogen from air has been discovered by Gustav Berggren's research group within the Molecular Biomimetics research programme at the Department of Chemistry - Ångström, Uppsala University, in collaboration with other researchers from Australia and UK, among others. The discovery could reduce dependence on fossil fuels. The research results have been published in Nature.

In 1997, Christopher A. Lipinski and his colleagues published their guidelines for how to make drugs that are more easily absorbed by the body, and for several years their "rule of 5" has been the guiding principle in drug research and drug design. The question is now asked, whether maybe these guidelines have been interpreted too literally.

Two different projects within the Section of Chemistry have recently been awarded with the "Attractive Innovation Project 2022" award by Uppsala University Innovation (UU Innovation): It concerns a method for manufacturing solar cell modules where perovskite solar cells are linked together in an efficient way, and a cell-penetrating peptide that can be used to fight viral diseases. The researchers behind these projects are Prof. Gerrit Boschloo and Prof. Ylva Ivarsson. 

Six researchers at the Department of Chemistry - Ångström have been awarded funding from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation's new investment in research for a sustainable society, the WISE project. 

Mental illness is a societal challenge and causes great suffering for the individuals affected. Daniel Globisch and Jonas Bergquist, within the research programme for Analytical Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry - BMC, participate in a large interdisciplinary research project that integrates both biological, medical and social aspects. The purpose of RE-MEND is to increase knowledge and develop better strategies to be able to prevent, instead of treat, mental disorders.

Anders Hagfeldt, who is a Professor in Physical Chemistry and also the Vice-Chancellor of Uppsala University, is one of the most cited researchers in the world. 

Each year, Ny Teknik (New Technology, a weekly Swedish magazine) lists the most innovative and promising young Swedish technology start-up companies for the year in something called "the 33-list". This year, two companies founded by researchers at the Department of Chemistry - Ångström are once again included on the list: Peafowl Plasmonics and Altris - for the second and third year in a row! 

Can nature's own processes be used to create new carbon dioxide-neutral fuels? Yes, that's what researchers Pia Lindberg and Leif Hammarström think at the research programmes for Molecular Biomimetics and Physical Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry - Ångström at Uppsala University. 

The Royal Society of Arts and Sciences of Uppsala's Popular Science Prize 2022 goes to professor emeritus Olle Matsson. He recieves the prize for the popular science dissemination of his research and accumulated knowledge in chemistry, with a particular focus on the properties of poisons and their impact on the human body. Poisoning and evil sudden death are themes that frighten, but also fascinates us, and makes us want to read on. It increases the interest and understanding of the chemistry subject. Olle Matsson has spread his valuable knowledge in an impressively large number of different media, linking it to interesting cultural perspectives, thus he has reached a wide audience.

PhD student Robin Dürr, within the research programme for physical chemistry at the Department of Chemistry - Ångström, hopes with his new patent-pending manufacturing method for membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) to accelerate the use of electrochemical cells (e.g. fuel cells) and the transition to renewable energy sources. 

The award is given by UU Innovation to “innovative projects and startup companies that have successfully attracted external funds that further strengthen development opportunities”. The research team receives the award for having developed a group of new molecules that have the potential to be developed into an antiviral drug for the treatment of Covid-19.

Altris, a startup company from the Department of Chemistry - Ångström, is investing in the production of cathode materials for sodium ion batteries in its own new factory in Sandviken.

Olle Matsson, professor emeritus in organic chemistry at the Department of Chemistry - BMC, together with Jean Pettersson, senior lecturer in analytical chemistry at the department, has helped analyze samples in connection with a suspicious death. 

How does a Pelletron Accelerator work? And how can it help Prof. Sascha Ott, within the research programme for Synthetic Molecular Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry - Ångström, in his research on hydrogen production and artificial photosynthesis? 

Lithium-sulfur is a type of battery that could challenge the Lithium-ion battery as more energy can be stored, but which currently does not measure up due to the battery's short lifespan. Now, Prof. Daniel Brandell's research group, within the research programme for Structural Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry - Ångström, together with researchers from Scania and the Laue-Langevin Institute, has succeeded in identifying some of the bottlenecks. 

Prof. Ingela Lanekoff, within the research programme for Analytical Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry - BMC, has received a research grant from the European Research Council (ERC), in the form of a so-called ERC Starting Grant.

This autumn, a brand new master's programme is offered at the Department of Chemistry - Ångström Laboratory at Uppsala University: The Master's Programme in Battery Technology and Energy Storage. In the field of battery technology, this is Sweden's first education and the Nordic region's first master's education. The training is carried out in collaboration with Northvolt and Volvo. 

Our oceans contain bacteria and algae that produce toxins. These toxins can be absorbed by mussels and oysters, which is good for the environment but not for humans who consume them. Researcher Aida Zuberovic Muratovic, Analytical Chemistry, is working to develop methods for finding these new toxins. 

Every year, the Uppsala Municipality awards gold medals of honor to a small number of Uppsala residents for their valuable services to the municipality or who in some other way are considered to have earned the municipality's award.

This year, Prof. Kristina Edström, at the research programme for structural chemistry at the Department of Chemistry - Ångström, is honored by being awarded a medal "for her many years of research and science in chemistry and with her leadership and world-leading research on next generation batteries - a necessity for energy storage in a fossil-free society - inspires researchers in Uppsala, within the EU and around the world ". 

Prof. Johannes Messinger, within the molecular biomimetics research programme at the Department of Chemistry - Ångström at Uppsala University, is researching a new method for producing fossil-free ammonia (NH3) from water and nitrogen using renewable energy. 

Professor Jonas Bergquist, at the Department of Chemistry - BMC, participates in a radio program on postcovid, ME and the ongoing comparative scientific studies.

Professor Kristina Edström, working within the Structural Chemistry research programme at the Department of Chemistry - Ångström, has been appointed as the 2021 recipient of the Björkén Prize. The prize is one of Uppsala University's greatest scientific prizes for outstanding research. Kristina Edström receives the award for her world-leading battery research. 

Senior lecturer Erik Lewin, within the research programme for Inorganic Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry - Ångström, has received an award for his "considerable pedagogical skill and clarity" from the student association K-section.

Henrik Land, within Molecular Biomimetics at Department of Chemistry - Ångström, has received a large Emerging Investigator grant of approx. 11 million SEK from the Novo Nordisk foundation for his project "Biocatalytic fixation of carbon dioxide – Biodiversity and evolvability of present day carbon monoxide dehydrogenase and its ancestors". 

Ben Johnson and Nicolas D'Imperio, two former PhD students in Prof. Sascha Ott's research group within the Synthetic Molecular Chemistry research programme at the Department of Chemistry - Ångström, who defended their dissertations in 2020 are now both awarded for their respective PhD theses. 

Prof. Kristina Edström, at the Department of Chemistry - Ångström, Structural Chemistry, has been elected to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, KVA.

In March 2020, SciLifeLab launched a national covid-19 research program together with the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (KAW). The program is now being extended and expanded, with an additional SEK 50 million from KAW. Prof. Helena Danielson and Prof. Ylva Ivarsson at the Department of Chemistry - BMC, Biochemistry, are among those who have received extended grants.

What did Alfred Nobel actually keep in his glass bottles? Prof. Adolf Gogoll, within the Organic Chemistry research programme at the Department of Chemistry - BMC, has helped the Nobel Prize Museum and the Swedish National Heritage Board to analyze the contents of 43 old chemical bottles that come from Alfred Nobel's laboratories. 

The Chemical Society in Uppsala awards a prize for the best degree project in chemistry, and for 2020, we are happy to learn that the prize goes to the Dutch Erasmus student Evelyn Coenen. Evelyn did her degree project in Prof. Jonas Bergquist's group within the Analytical Chemistry research programme at the Department of Chemistry - BMC, Uppsala University. Her supervisor was Kumari Ubhayasekera. 

Hydrogen for energy use can be extracted in an environmentally friendly way from water and sunlight, using photocatalytic composite polymer nanoparticles developed by Haining Tian's research group within the Physical Chemistry research programme at the Department of Chemistry - Ångström. 

The molecular details of how SARS-CoV-2 enters cells and infects them are still not clear. Prof. Ylva Ivarsson and her group at the Department of Chemistry - BMC, Biochemistry, have tested the bioinformatic predictions made by another research group and have identified receptors that could be important players in the process. 

Christine Dyrager, Assistant Professor in Organic Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry - BMC, has been elected as one of 12 young researchers for ChemMedChem's Early-Career Advisory Board (ECAB).

Prof. Jan Kihlberg, at the Department of Chemistry - BMC, Organic Chemistry, has been rewarded with the Ulla and Stig Holmquist Science Prize in Organic Chemistry for 2020. Jan is rewarded for his pioneering efforts in the field of carbohydrate chemistry and its applications for biomedical purposes.

The decision regarding the appointment of Vice-Chancellor that we have been waiting for since June, when the recruitment group and the Consistory decided that Prof. Anders Hagfeldt would be appointed Vice-Chancellor, has now been announced: On November 20, the Government decided that Anders Hagfeldt will be the new Vice-Chancellor of Uppsala University from 1 January, 2021.

Hydrogen gas and methanol are currently produced mainly from fossil sources, such as oil or natural gas. A more environmentally and climate-friendly alternative is to produce these substances from water and carbon dioxide using sustainable electricity. Prof. Sascha Ott and co-workers at Synthetic Molecular Chemistry have now developed a new material that is needed in the process - by using sunlight as a complement to electricity. The study is published in the journal Nature Communications.

The alumni Malin Källsten, a previous PhD student in Analytical Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry - BMC who defended her dissertation in March this year, has received this year's Phabian award for best doctoral thesis from the Swedish Pharmaceutical Society (Apotekarsocieteten).

The Royal Society of Sciences at Uppsala has decided to award the Thuréus Prize in the natural history-medical class to Prof. Lynn Kamerlin at the Department of Chemistry - BMC.

This year's Spring Conferment Ceremony, which was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, will be held on the 13th of November – corona-proof. The ceremony will take place in three rounds – all on the same day and all streamed in real time.

Solar cells on trucks to reduce carbon dioxide emissions is one of the collaborative projects that Vinnova is focusing on in its Challenge-Driven Innovation initiative. Erik Johansson, Professor at the Department of Chemistry – Ångström, is leading the project.

Every year, Ny Teknik (New Technology) lists the most innovative and promising young technology companies for the year. And this year, THREE companies founded by researchers at the Department of Chemistry - Ångström are included in the list: Peapowl Solar Power and Altris, both new on the list, and Graphmatech who made the list in 2019 as well. 

The European research initiative BATTERY 2030+ is now getting going. The ambition is to make Europe a world-leader in the development and production of the batteries of the future. These batteries need to store more energy, have a longer life, and be safer and more environmentally friendly than today’s batteries in order to facilitate the transition to a more climate-neutral society. The project is led from Uppsala University.

Chao Zhang, assistant professor at the Structural Chemistry program was awarded ERC StG 2020 from European Research Council. His project DeepProton is on the development of new computational techniques for modelling electrified metal oxide nanostructures in electrochemical systems.

Congratulations Chao!

By using x-ray absorption in studies of nitrogen gas, and starting from an ion rather than from a neutral molecule one may get out much more detailed information. It is possible to make deeper analyses than what the established ESCA-method has made possible. This shows a new study from, among others, Uppsala University published in Physical Review Letters.

Because of the current situation that the world is in, many people work from home and might want to take online courses to increase their competence in certain areas. A course that is sought after by both the public and students is a course on batteries for electric vehicles.

Hundreds of protective face shields, face masks, safety glasses, aprons and bottles of hand sanitiser from Uppsala University were delivered to Uppsala University Hospital on Friday afternoon, in response to the acute shortage of certain items of personal protective equipment at the emergency services centre ahead of the weekend.

As a consequence of the outbreak of the coronavirus and the Swedish Government's recommendations to begin distance education, Uppsala University has switched to online teaching from 18 March. Felix Ho, Associate Professor at the Department of Chemistry – Ångström is someone who has worked a lot with online and digital tools for teaching.

Jacinto Sá from Physical Chemistry is one of the researchers involved in finding a less toxic blue dye. The research has quickly gotten worldwide spread and getting articles written in reputable newspapers like the NY Times.

Each year, the Göran Gustafsson Foundation give out several awards, one in particular is called the grand prize.

Farnaz Gahjeri and Mattias Ekelund both have a background from Uppsala University but also in subjects related to chemistry.
IKEM (The Innovation and Chemistry Industries in Sweden) has interviewed Farnaz and Mattias to show examples of what you as a chemistry student can work with after your studies.

Five members of the university’s staff have been awarded the Elder Gustaf Adolf Medal for extraordinarily significant works. Peter Wallenberg, chair of the board of the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, has been appointed an honorary member of Uppsala University.

Watch the clip about our battery research, with Kristina Edström, Daniel Brandell and more.

The Center for Swedish Batteries, "Batteries Sweden", is a brand new competence center for battery research that will start on February 6-7. The center is a collaboration between different universities and companies and will be coordinated by Uppsala University with Kristina Edström and Daniel Brandell, at the Ångström Advanced Battery Center, Department of Chemistry - Ångström, as project managers.

The Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) has decided to extend their funding to SwedNess research school. SwedNess is a graduate school for neutron scattering operated by six Swedish universities, coordinated by Uppsala University. SwedNess has the goal to educate doctoral students to expand Sweden's expertise in neutron scattering to exploit ESS, the European Spallation Source, now under construction in Lund. The financing consists of 100 million SEK until 2025.

We would like to congratulate professor Hammarström for receiving the Presidential Award of the Inter-American Photochemical Society.

Big congratulations!

The paper is a joint effort between several universities with Chemistry - Ångström represented through Marcus Lundberg, Jacinto Sá and Mickaël G. Delcey. It was recently highlighted in EurekAlert!.

Thesis Production and DiVA Helpdesk from Uppsala university library will be on site at campus Ångström. Come by and they will help you with your questions about your thesis and or with DiVA registrations.

Where: Ångström Library, Ångström Visualisation Lab

When: 15 January, 13.00-15.00

This year it's 150 years ago that Dmítriy Ivánovich Mendeléyev first published the Periodic Law that would later become the periodic table. Unesco has decided to celebrate this by calling 2019 "International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements" (IYPT).

15 projects run by, or in collaboration with, Uppsala University researchers and students have been acknowledged with the 2019 "Attractive Innovation Project" award. Common to all projects is support från Uppsala University Innovation and success in securing external funding to further enhance development opportunities.

Electric car batteries have a significantly lower impact on the climate than what was previously assumed, a new study shows.

Sina Wrede was awarded Kemiska Sällskapet in Uppsalas grand prize for best Master thesis within Teknat. She received the award during the Nobel letures in the University Main Building last friday.

Big congratulations from all of us at the Section of Chemistry.

The European Commission has approved under EU State aid rules an Important Project of Common European interest (“IPCEI”) jointly notified by Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Sweden to support research and innovation in the common European priority area of batteries.

Over just a few decades certain enzymes have developed the ability to break down organophosphates – toxins found in pesticides and nerve gas. Lynn Kamerlin is using advanced computations to understand this rapid evolution. The aim is to tailor enzymes and help develop new treatments for organophosphate poisoning.

Associate Professor Haining Tian from Physical Chemistry was recently awarded a Wallenberg Academy Fellow for his research on catalysts for the solar fuels of the future.

A new deal has been agreed with the scientific publisher Elsevier. The new deal means that researchers and students at Uppsala University will regain access the over 2000 journals included in the Elsevier package starting in the next few days. From the start of next year you will also be able to publish Open Access in Elsevier journals free of charge.

Based on the recommendations from several colleagues, institutions and the opinion of the assessment committee "Qilu Friendship Award", the Shandong region's provincial government has decided to award the "Qilu Friendship Award 2019" to Professor Dr Jonas Bergquist at the Department of Chemistry - BMC, Uppsala University.

This year it's 150 years ago that Dmítriy Ivánovich Mendeléyev first published the Periodic Law that would later become the periodic table. Unesco has decided to celebrate this by calling 2019 "International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements" (IYPT).

The European Commission (EC) has unveiled a new initiative, in partnership with the industry association Hydrogen Europe, to promote production of green hydrogen across the European Union. The aim is to generate hydrogen via renewable-energy-powered water electrolysis for use as a carbon-free fuel and chemical raw material.

Per-Ola Norrby, Principal Scientist at AstraZeneca Gothenburg and Professor at Göteborgs universitet and University of Notre Dame, USA, have been elected to receive the Uppsala universitet Ulla and Stig Holmquist's scientific awards in organic chemistry.

This year it's 150 years ago that Dmítriy Ivánovich Mendeléyev first published the Periodic Law that would later become the periodic table. Unesco has decided to celebrate this by calling 2019 "International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements" (IYPT).

Just recently, this years recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was revealed.

On 23 September partners and supporting organisations of the BATTERY 2030+ initiative met for a workshop at Virje University in Bruxelles. The aim was to discuss the draft of the roadmap that will be delivered to the European Commission in February 2020.

This year it's 150 years ago that Dmítriy Ivánovich Mendeléyev first published the Periodic Law that would later become the periodic table. Unesco has decided to celebrate this by calling 2019 "International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements" (IYPT).

Last year Uppsala University joined forces with several other universities to start a new research project within quasicrystals. This was possible with the support of the Knut and Alice Wallenberg foundation.

This year it's 150 years ago that Dmítriy Ivánovich Mendeléyev first published the Periodic Law that would later become the periodic table. Unesco has decided to celebrate this by calling 2019 "International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements" (IYPT).

Starting 15 July, researchers at Uppsala University can publish articles without a publication fee in 576 fully open access journals from Springer Nature.

Text: Christina Svala

Uppsala University Prize for successful knowledge transfer, "Hjärnäpplet", is awarded to Helena Danielson, Professor of Biochemistry and Head of Chemistry - BMC.

Eight new world-class research environments to be funded is the headline for the press release written by Vinnova, and one of these new world-class research environments will be led by professor Kristina Edström.

Wallenberg Academy Fellow Erik Berg at Structural Chemistry is researching lithium-ion batteries, mainly how to extend their lifespan. The Knut and Alice Wallenberg foundation has written a long article about his research so far.

This year it's 150 years ago that Dmítriy Ivánovich Mendeléyev first published the Periodic Law that would later become the periodic table. Unesco has decided to celebrate this by calling 2019 "International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements" (IYPT).

The conferment ceremony is a graduation party for those that have taken their PhD graduation during recent years. Everyone in Uppsala will notice because of the castle cannons saluting during the morning and ceremony.

Tim Nordh graduated and received his PhD from Structural Chemistry in 2017, he then went on to create Altris. Tim and Altris recently received an award for being one of the ten most innovative entrepreneurs of 2019. It was given by ÅForsk and Swedish Incubators & Science Parks (SISP) during Sveriges Innovationsriksdag in Karlskrona.

This year it's 150 years ago that Dmítriy Ivánovich Mendeléyev first published the Periodic Law that would later become the periodic table. Unesco has decided to celebrate this by calling 2019 "International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements" (IYPT).

Each year the King Carl XVI Gustafs 50 year foundation welcomes researchers within science, technology and environment to the Royal Palace. While there they will receive a grant from King Carl XVI Gustaf, the reception takes place on the 8th of May.

Sustainable, ultra-thin and transparent. A unique combination of characteristics when it comes to solar cells. A technology that could potentially revolutionize the way we power our smart devices, displays and windows. Meet Jacinto Sá, co-founder of Peafowl Solar Power and Associate Professor in Physical Chemistry at Chemistry - Ångström.

Abstract
Electron transfer (ET) reactions slow down when they become thermodynamically very favorable, a counterintuitive interplay of kinetics and thermodynamics termed the inverted region in Marcus theory.

We are proud to announce that Open Medicine Foundation (OMF) has funded the establishment of a third ME/CFS Collaborative Research Center, here at Uppsala University.

Innovation and Chemical Industries in Sweden (IKEM) work with giving exposure to exciting jobs within Chemistry. This is done by interviewing young former chemistry students that now work within the industry.

SoFiA receives funding from the FET OPEN 2018 call within the Horizon 2020 program. Coordinated by Prof. Leif Hammarström from Uppsala University, the interdisciplinary project features 8 partner institutions from 6 different countries.

This year it's 150 years ago that Dmítriy Ivánovich Mendeléyev first published the Periodic Law that would later become the periodic table. Unesco has decided to celebrate this by calling 2019 "International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements" (IYPT).

Kristina Edström has become one of 22 chosen to be the 2019 Wallenberg Scholars. This means that she will receive a personal grant of 18 million SEK to be able to do research over 5 years without worrying about finances.

Innovation and Chemical Industries in Sweden (IKEM) work with giving exposure to exciting jobs within Chemistry. This is done by interviewing young former chemistry students that now work within the industry.

As we mentioned in a previous article, last weekend the 2019 SciFest took place at Fyrishov here in Uppsala. We were there and took some pictures of the booths from the Section of Chemistry.

This year it's 150 years ago that Dmítriy Ivánovich Mendeléyev first published the Periodic Law that would later become the periodic table. Unesco has decided to celebrate this by calling 2019 "International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements" (IYPT).

A world moving from fossil fuels to renewable energy will rely more and more on energy storage and in particular on batteries. Better batteries can reduce the carbon footprint of the transport sector, stabilise the power grid, and much more. The Battery 2030+ large-scale research initiative will gather leading scientists in Europe, as well as the industry, to achieve a leap forward in battery science and technology.

The SUNRISE project for a coordination and support action (CSA) has been successfully selected by the European Commission as one of the six candidates for a European large-scale research initiative.

Leif Hammarström, professor in Physical Chemistry, will coordinate Uppsala University's part in the project.

Swedish Opening Ceremony - International Year of The Periodic Table 2019.

This week, delegates from five Swedish higher education institutions are travelling to the US to hold, jointly with the Swedish Embassy in Washington DC, a one-day conference on Swedish research and higher education for interested Americans.

This year it's 150 years ago that Dmítriy Ivánovich Mendeléyev first published the Periodic Law that would later become the periodic table. Unesco has decided to celebrate this by calling 2019 "International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements" (IYPT).

On Thursday 7 February, it will again be time for the Celsius-Linnaeus lectures and following symposium. Two of the world’s top researchers will be coming to the Ångström Laboratory at Uppsala University to tell us about the link between their research and topical questions about our lives and our times. This year's lecturers are geologist Martin Blunt and microbiologist and toxicologist Linda S. Birnbaum.

Today the Uppsala castle cannons fired in salute to celebrate the PhDs that has graduated from Uppsala University. Henrik Stegeby and Rabia Ayub from Chemistry - Ångström received their diploma, ring and laurel wreath. Sravani Musunuri from Analytical Chemistry at BMC was also present.

A research group led by Peter Lindblad and Gustav Berggren has created a new artificial enzyme which can affect and function together with a living cells metabolism. The idea is that these artificial enzymes will be able to use the cells energy production and thereby produce hydrogen from solar energy.

We get some grants, big and small, every month from different foundations and similar. These are the grants received for December 2018.

How can proteins be influenced so that they point in a single direction? And what role do proteins’ interactions play in biology? The biochemist Erik Marklund uses computer calculations to reveal the dynamics between vital molecules.

The Future of Batteries workshop aimed to engage the research community and industry in preparing a Flagship initiative on future battery technologies. It presented the state of play in the preparation of this initiative and encouraged stakeholders into a dialogue on the technological priorities that it should address.

In a new article published in Nature an international research team presents high-resolution images of photosystem II, the protein complex that splits water into hydrogen ions and oxygen during photosynthesis. The images will help researchers better understand this complex mechanism, possibly opening up the door to developing cheap and efficient solar fuel devices.

Uppsala University and GE Healthcare Life Sciences have signed a long-term collaboration agreement that gives university researchers the opportunity to test biological processes on a large scale and students important experience with industrial processes in the newly opened Testa Center in Uppsala.

Cesar Pay Gómez was a fellow application to a project that recently got a 28.100.000 SEK grant over five years from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Frances H. Arnold, George P. Smith and Sir Gregory P. Winter. 

Frances H. Arnold is the fifth female Nobel laureate in Chemistry.

This day (20th October) event focuses on vitally important chemistry. The exhibition Aspiring to Precision highlights the beginnings of chemistry at Uppsala University during the 19th century. Come to Gustavianum and hear more about the Swedish elements, discoveries and exciting experiments.

In a ceremony on 14 June, the inauguration of a collaboration with the Chinese company USUN Biotechnology and Jiangyin Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone was held at the Biomedical Centre at Uppsala University.

The Royal Society of Sciences had a ceremony today at Museum Gustavianum in Uppsala. During which they announced that Professor Daniel Brandell will receive the Bergstedt award.

The Chemistry professor and world-leading battery researcher is getting the Royal Institute of Technology grand prize 2018. Through her research, the world has come closer to a solution in terms of energy storage. She also has a great commitment to inspire and guide young and promising researchers.

Access to sustainable energy is necessary to match the energy requirements of the future. The world must find a way to replace fossil fuels. Fuel that we can produce directly from the energy of the sun, through natural or artificial photosynthesis. The goal is a fossil free energy system.

The conference will be held from the 25th to the 28th June at The Swedish Agricultural University, Ultuna in Uppsala, Sweden.