28th International Conference on High Resolution Molecular Spectroscopy

From 31 August to 4 September 2026, the University of Chemistry and Technology Prague (UCT Prague) hosted the 28th International Conference on High Resolution Molecular Spectroscopy. The conference brought together nearly 200 participants from 22 countries, offering a unique opportunity to present the latest scientific advances in high-resolution molecular spectroscopy, engage in scientific discussions, and establish new international contacts and collaborations.

The conference programme featured approximately 100 talks and more than 70 poster presentations. Participants discussed advances in rotational, vibrational, and electronic spectroscopy, new experimental and theoretical approaches, and their applications in molecular physics, physical chemistry, atmospheric research, and astrophysics. In addition to invited lectures, the programme included thematic minisymposia, contributed talks, and poster sessions, providing opportunities for established scientists and early-career researchers to meet and exchange ideas.

A traditional highlight of the conference was the Ioannes Marcus Marci Session, held in honour of the prominent Czech scientist Jan Marek Marci and organised in collaboration with the Jan Marek Marci Spectroscopic Society. This year's distinguished speaker was Reinhard Genzel, the 2020 Nobel Laureate in Physics, from the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Munich. His lecture, focusing on the study of massive black holes in our Galaxy using modern spectroscopic techniques, was one of the highlights of the conference.

Students and early-career scientists also played an active role throughout the event. Scientific discussions, poster presentations, and informal gatherings created an inspiring environment for sharing experiences and building connections among research groups from around the world. This strong emphasis on interaction between generations of researchers has long been one of the defining features of this prestigious conference.

The conference was organised by the High-Resolution Molecular Spectroscopy Group at the Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, UCT Prague, led by Dr. Patrik Kania. Special thanks go to the department's students, who contributed significantly to organising the event, and to Mr. Beneš, the department's administrative officer, for his administrative support.

The organisers would also like to express their sincere gratitude to the Mayor of Prague, Associate Professor Bohuslav Svoboda, for granting his patronage, which made it possible to use the representative premises of Prague City Hall. Thanks also go to the Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU), which provided accommodation for many conference participants at Masaryk Dormitory.

The successful organisation of the conference reaffirmed UCT Prague's important position in the field of molecular spectroscopy and further strengthened the High-Resolution Molecular Spectroscopy Group's ties with leading research institutions worldwide.

The organisers, speakers, students, sponsors, and all participants deserve sincere thanks for contributing to the stimulating scientific atmosphere that made the conference such a success.

According to the decision of the international Steering Committee, the next conference will take place in Valladolid, Spain, in 2028. We look forward to welcoming the community back to Prague for the 30th edition of the conference in 2030.