This July we had the opportunity to take part in IUPAC 2025, a landmark event for the global chemistry community held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. IUPAC 2025 brought together the two major IUPAC meetings: the 53rd IUPAC General Assembly and the 50th World Chemistry Congress. For the first time ever, both events were hosted in an ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) country, creating “immense enthusiasm and excitement among chemists from this part of the world”, in the words of IUPAC.
The theme of IUPAC 2025, “Chemistry for a Sustainable Future”, highlighted the central role chemistry plays in addressing global sustainability challenges. The congress featured scientific sessions across various disciplines in chemistry, alongside a dedicated cluster of symposia on Chemistry and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), showcasing how chemical research can contribute practical solutions to global needs.
IMPACTIVE fitted in these topics like a glove, so we were strongly represented throughout the event. Our coordinator Evelina Colacino delivered an invited talk, “Sustainable preparation of WHO essential medicines by mechanochemistry”, showcasing how greener, mechanochemical approaches can transform pharmaceutical manufacturing of highly strategic APIs. We were also thrilled to celebrate the election of Floris Rutjes, IMPACTIVE principal investigator, to the IUPAC Science Board. And last, but not least, we were also present in the poster sessions, where we showcased poster and engaged with the international chemistry community.