Società Chimica Italiana

Si rinnova e si rafforza l’alleanza tra SCI e FNCF

moscabianca.info — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 07:21:24 +0000

SCI and FNCF Renew and Strengthen their Partnership

moscabianca.info Tue, 4 Aug 2026 - 11:06

Rome, 3 August 2026 – A strategic partnership renewed and strengthened to give fresh impetus to scientific culture, enhance the chemistry profession, and consolidate dialogue between research, institutions and society. This is the aim of the Framework Cooperation Agreement signed by Professor Luigi Mondello, President of the Italian Chemical Society (SCI), and Dr Nausicaa Orlandi, President of the National Federation of the Orders of Chemists and Physicists (FNCF).

The agreement marks the continuation of a long-standing collaboration designed to bring together the scientific and professional expertise of the two institutions. Their shared path aims to promote joint initiatives in science communication, high-quality training and continuing professional development, reaffirming the central role of chemistry as a discipline essential to the country’s economic, technological and social growth.

«The renewal of this Framework Agreement is the natural continuation of a shared journey in which the profession and research work hand in hand», said Dr Nausicaa Orlandi, President of the FNCF. «At a complex time such as the present, it is essential to reaffirm the indispensable nature of chemists’ technical and scientific expertise in protecting public health, the environment and citizens’ safety. Our cooperation with SCI enables us to pursue key priorities for the future of the profession with even greater determination, beginning with the completion of the legislative process for profession-qualifying degree programmes. This is an essential tool for promptly recognising and certifying the advanced skills of young graduates, while ensuring their timely and qualified entry into the labour market».

«The collaboration between the Italian Chemical Society and the National Federation of the Orders of Chemists and Physicists represents a virtuous model of integration between research, academia and the profession», said Professor Luigi Mondello, President of SCI. «Only through joint action can we effectively address the major challenges of our time, from health and the environment to the energy transition and industrial innovation. This Agreement strengthens our shared commitment to promoting chemical culture, supporting the education of younger generations, enhancing the role of chemists in society, and contributing to the country’s scientific, technological and competitive growth».

Building on the activities already launched and carried out jointly, the Agreement provides for the continuation and further development of major shared strategic projects:

Recognition and protection of chemists’ professional expertise, including with regard to profession-qualifying degree programmes: a coordinated priority action aimed at recognising chemists’ advanced specialisation and specific expertise in strategic fields such as healthcare, environmental protection, food safety, energy, industry and research. This includes a shared commitment to supporting the approval of the decree on profession-qualifying degree programmes, a key step towards accelerating access to the profession and providing the public and private sectors with professionals who have rigorous, high-level scientific training.
Promotion of the Chemistry Olympiad, a shared commitment to recognising young talent, encouraging new generations to take an interest in STEM disciplines, and supporting school and university guidance.
Promotion of chemistry teaching in schools, chemistry education delivered by chemists, alongside outreach and awareness-raising activities.

The agreement directly addresses the major challenges of our time, from protecting public health and the environment to the energy transition, industrial innovation and sustainable development. In this context, SCI and FNCF renew their commitment to fostering technology transfer between academia and professional practice, while promoting an inclusive scientific culture attentive to equal opportunities.

Over the coming months, the two institutions will implement an integrated programme of joint initiatives, events, training courses and science communication projects. These activities will help strengthen the bridge between science, the profession and society, while enhancing the contribution of chemists to the country’s development and safety.

Vito Capriati vince l'Arfvedson-Schlenk-Preis della GDCh

moscabianca.info — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 10:21:17 +0000

Vito Capriati Receives the GDCh Arfvedson-Schlenk Prize

moscabianca.info Mon, 20 Jul 2026 - 17:25

Our Fellow Vito Capriati, Full Professor of Organic Chemistry at the Department of Pharmacy of the University of Bari Aldo Moro, has been awarded the 2026 Arfvedson-Schlenk Prize by the German Chemical Society (Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker – GDCh). Named after lithium chemistry pioneers Johan August Arfvedson and Wilhelm Schlenk, the prize is sponsored by Albemarle Germany. The award ceremony will take place on 9 September during the GDCh Conference on Inorganic Chemistry at Friedrich Schiller University Jena.

The award recognizes Capriati’s contributions to lithium chemistry, particularly his pioneering research on organolithium compounds and the use of unconventional solvents in these reactions. His work has also opened up new avenues in the chemistry of lithium carbenoids, highly reactive intermediates of major importance in organic synthesis.

Capriati graduated in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology from the University of Bari in 1990 and is currently Full Professor of Organic Chemistry at the Department of Pharmacy of the same university. Since 2016, he has served as Director of the interuniversity consortium C.I.N.M.P.I.S. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry since 2019, he is the author of more than 180 scientific publications.

Vito Di Noto riceve il Walter van Schalkwijk Award 2026

moscabianca.info — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 13:32:41 +0000

Vito Di Noto Receives the 2026 Walter van Schalkwijk Award

moscabianca.info Fri, 10 Jul 2026 - 17:24

Our Fellow Vito Di Noto, Full Professor at the Department of Industrial Engineering of the University of Padua, has been awarded the Energy Technology Division Walter van Schalkwijk Award in Sustainable Energy Technology by The Electrochemical Society (ECS). Di Noto is the first Italian and the first European to receive this prestigious international recognition.

The award honours his contributions to the development of innovative materials and electrochemical systems for batteries, fuel cells, electrolyzers, ion-conducting membranes, polymer electrolytes and hybrid materials for energy conversion and storage. His research combines fundamental science, molecular materials design, advanced characterization and device development, with a particular focus on sustainable energy technologies.

Established by the Energy Technology Division of The Electrochemical Society, the Walter van Schalkwijk Award recognizes original and innovative contributions to technologies for the sustainable production, conversion, storage and use of energy. Di Noto will formally receive the award at the 250th ECS Meeting in Calgary, Canada, where he will also deliver a lecture as part of the Division’s programme.

ERC Proof of Concept 2026 per il progetto di Flaviana Di Lorenzo

moscabianca.info — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 13:20:28 +0000

ERC Proof of Concept 2026 Awarded to Flaviana Di Lorenzo for the LPS-Pro Project

moscabianca.info Tue, 7 Jul 2026 - 17:23

Our Fellow Flaviana Di Lorenzo, a faculty member at the Department of Chemical Sciences of the University of Naples Federico II, is among the recipients of an ERC Proof of Concept 2026 grant for the project LPS-Pro – Lipopolysaccharide Lipid A Profiling to Guide Microbiome-Supported Immunotherapy in Melanoma. This marks her second grant from the European Research Council, following the ERC Starting Grant she received in 2021.

The LPS-Pro project aims to develop the first system capable of directly profiling lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from the gut microbiota, molecules that play a key role in regulating immune responses. Using a platform based on mass spectrometry and the chemical characterization of LPS, the research will investigate how these molecular signals change during melanoma treatment, with the goal of contributing to the development of safer and more effective immunotherapies.

The new funding will enable Di Lorenzo to translate the results of fundamental research into a technology with potential clinical applications. She leads a multidisciplinary research group investigating the relationship between the structure and function of microbial glycans and their role in regulating the immune system.

Olimpiadi Internazionali della Chimica 2028, il Presidente Mondello ricevuto dal Ministro Valditara

moscabianca.info — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 11:01:40 +0000

International Chemistry Olympiad 2028: President Mondello Meets with Minister Valditara

moscabianca.info Wed, 1 Jul 2026 - 13:11

On 30 June, Prof. Luigi Mondello, President of the Società Chimica Italiana, met with Italy’s Minister of Education and Merit, Giuseppe Valditara, at the Ministry headquarters in Rome to discuss the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO), which will be hosted in Messina in 2028. Senator Nino Germanà also attended the meeting.

During the discussion, the significance of the event was highlighted, with particular emphasis on its international impact. The Olympiad will bring together students, teachers, mentors and national delegations from across the globe, further strengthening Italy’s role in promoting chemical sciences among younger generations.

Minister Valditara expressed his appreciation for the initiative and for the work carried out by the Italian Chemical Society, reaffirming the Ministry’s support for the organization of the event.

Prof. Mondello thanked the Minister for his attention and support, stating: “Hosting the International Chemistry Olympiad is a major recognition for the Italian chemistry community and a valuable opportunity to promote talent, education and research. Messina and Sicily will become the focal point of an important international scientific event, showcasing Italy’s contribution to science and inspiring more young people to pursue chemistry and STEM disciplines.”

ERC Advanced Grant per Luisa Torsi con il progetto DIPNET

moscabianca.info — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 13:42:25 +0000

ERC Advanced Grant Awarded to Luisa Torsi for the DIPNET Project

moscabianca.info Wed, 24 Jun 2026 - 17:22

Our Fellow Luisa Torsi, Full Professor at the University of Bari Aldo Moro, has been awarded a prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant for the project DIPNET – DIPole NETwork engineering for sub-attomolar digital quantitative optical assays. With €3.5 million in funding, the project was selected under one of Europe’s most highly regarded programmes supporting frontier research.

DIPNET aims to develop a new, simple, rapid and portable fluorimetric and colorimetric diagnostic platform capable of detecting biomarkers at extremely low concentrations. The project is based on an innovative approach to engineering the surface of the sensing biomaterial, with the goal of enabling highly accurate analyses even when only trace amounts of the target substances are present.

The grant is a major recognition of Professor Torsi’s scientific work and that of her research group, while opening up new opportunities for the development of increasingly sensitive, accessible and rapid diagnostic tools. The Italian Chemical Society warmly congratulates Professor Torsi and the entire research team on this outstanding achievement.

AIFA e SCI: accordo di collaborazione sulle nuove frontiere del farmaco

moscabianca.info — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:48:23 +0000

AIFA e SCI: accordo di collaborazione sulle nuove frontiere del farmaco

moscabianca.info Tue, 9 Jun 2026 - 10:19

Roma, 4 giugno 2026 - Using artificial intelligence to design new drug candidates, identifying new therapeutic uses for medicines that are already on the market, and understanding why the same treatment can produce different outcomes in different patients. These are among the key areas covered by a new memorandum of understanding signed by the Italian Medicines Agency (Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco - AIFA) and the Società Chimica Italiana (SCI)which have formally established a three-year strategic collaboration for the first time.

“Bringing together the expertise of the scientific community and the experience of the regulatory authority means strengthening the foundations of pharmaceutical innovation,” said SCI President Luigi Mondello.

“This agreement provides an important opportunity to deepen the dialogue between scientific research and the pharmaceutical sector,” added AIFA President Robert Nisticò. “Working with the Italian Chemical Society will allow us to explore strategic areas for innovation and develop shared perspectives on the challenges shaping the future of medicines.”

According to Stefano Alcaro, President of SCI’s Division of Medicinal Chemistry and promoter of the initiative, “the agreement is designed as an open platform that will enable all relevant expertise within SCI to engage with AIFA on issues that truly matter: access to medicines, appropriate use of therapies, and scientific innovation.”

The partnership covers eight priority areas. Some focus on the most advanced frontiers of pharmaceutical research, while others address pressing challenges facing healthcare systems.

Among the most significant is drug repurposing—the identification of new therapeutic applications for medicines that have already been approved. This approach can dramatically shorten development timelines and reduce costs while helping address unmet medical needs. It is the same strategy that allowed researchers during the COVID-19 pandemic to rapidly evaluate existing drugs against a previously unknown disease.

In the field of drug discovery, the agreement places particular emphasis on digital platforms powered by generative AI. These technologies make it possible to design, screen and optimize potential drug candidates before they are ever synthesized in the laboratory. The same computational approaches can predict critical safety parameters—including toxicity, metabolism and systemic exposure—at a very early stage, reducing reliance on animal testing. This is currently one of the fastest-growing areas of global investment in pharmaceutical R&D, and the agreement aims to strengthen Italian expertise in this field.

The collaboration also addresses several emerging areas of strategic importance. Pharmacomicrobiomics, for example, investigates how the gut microbiome influences drug efficacy and safety, with the long-term goal of tailoring treatments to each patient’s biological profile—a key step toward precision medicine.

Environmental sustainability is another focus. The agreement includes activities related to pharmaceutical residues in water systems and bioaccumulation, issues that are receiving increasing attention from European regulators and policymakers.

Training and talent development will also play a central role. Dedicated programs for young researchers will focus on areas such as artificial intelligence, precision medicine and gender medicine, helping to equip the next generation of scientists with the skills required by a rapidly evolving pharmaceutical landscape and addressing Italy’s long-standing challenge of retaining highly qualified talent.

AIFA and SCI will meet again in September at the 30th National Meeting on Medicinal Chemistry in Messina, where Presidents Mondello and Nisticò are expected to present the first outcomes of their joint initiatives.

Foto di gruppo in occasione dell’accordo AIFA-SCI. Da sinistra a destra: Prof. Gianluca Farinola (Past-President della SCI), Prof. Robert Nisticò (Presidente dell’AIFA), Prof. Luigi Mondello (Presidente della SCI), Prof. Stefano Alcaro (Presidente della DCF-SCI), Prof.ssa Maria Laura Bolognesi (Vice-Presidentessa della SCI) e Prof. Alessandro Abbotto (Vice Presidente della SCI).

Il Prof. Luigi Cavallo riceve il Premio González-Ciamician 2026

moscabianca.info — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:26:26 +0000

Prof. Luigi Cavallo Honored with the González-Ciamician Award 2026

moscabianca.info Wed, 29 Apr 2026 - 09:21

The Italian Chemical Society (SCI) is proud to announce that the Spanish Royal Society of Chemistry (RSEQ) has awarded the 2026 González-Ciamician Award to our member Prof. Luigi Cavallo.

This prestigious international accolade recognizes Prof. Cavallo’s outstanding scientific contributions to computational chemistry and catalysis. He is globally renowned for developing innovative molecular models and descriptors for high-performance catalyst design—tools that have become essential in addressing 21st-century energy and environmental challenges.

Statement from the SCI President

The President of the Italian Chemical Society, Prof. Luigi Mondello, expressed great satisfaction with this achievement, highlighting the scientific and institutional significance of the award:

"We are deeply honored by the RSEQ’s decision to confer the González-Ciamician Award on Prof. Cavallo. This distinction not only celebrates his extraordinary scientific impact but also further strengthens the long-standing and fruitful relationship between our two chemical communities."

Nasce la Fondazione SCI-ETS

moscabianca.info — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 13:01:54 +0000

The SCI-ETS Foundation is launched

moscabianca.info Thu, 23 Apr 2026 - 15:07

The Società Chimica Italiana has taken a further step in strengthening its support for the scientific community with the creation of the SCI-ETS Foundation, a dedicated body designed to provide a more structured approach to advancing research, education, and chemical culture.

The Foundation has been established as an autonomous entity intended to complement and enhance the Society’s work rather than replace it. It reinforces the SCI’s mission by offering a focused framework for developing long-term initiatives aimed at fostering the discipline and supporting its key contributors—starting with students and early-career researchers. Its creation marks an important milestone in the Society’s development, introducing a tool specifically designed to make its initiatives more consistent, structured, and impactful.

Reflecting on this development, President Luigi Mondello noted: “With the Foundation, we aim to equip ourselves with a tool capable of more effectively supporting the growth of our scientific community, with a particular focus on young people and their education. Chemistry plays a central role in the country’s development, and our commitment is to strengthen its presence in society, research, and education”.

The Foundation gives concrete form to goals that have always been central to the SCI’s vision: supporting education, recognizing merit, advancing research, and promoting chemical culture.

Why the Foundation matters

Through the Foundation, the Italian Chemical Society will be able to fund scholarships as well as doctoral and postdoctoral programs, promote mentoring and career guidance initiatives, recognize young researchers through awards, and expand science communication and outreach activities.

Its establishment also reflects a strategic effort to create a more effective and sustainable structure to support these activities over time, broadening opportunities for participation and contribution.

As a Third Sector Entity, the Foundation will have access to dedicated funding mechanisms, including Italy’s “5 per mille” scheme, allowing members, citizens, and supporters to directly contribute to initiatives that promote education, research, and chemical culture.

Overall, this step strengthens the Society’s ability to act while ensuring that its support for the scientific community becomes more sustainable, continuous, and far-reaching.

Cannizzaro 2026: un evento per celebrare il bicentenario della nascita

moscabianca.info — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 08:09:07 +0000

Cannizzaro 2026: an event celebrating the bicentenary of his birth

moscabianca.info Wed, 21 Jan 2026 - 11:20

On the occasion of the bicentenary of the birth of Stanislao Cannizzaro (1826–2026), a central figure in the development of modern chemistry and the atomic–molecular theory, the Italian Chemical Society, in collaboration with the University of Palermo, is promoting an international conference dedicated to his scientific, cultural, and institutional legacy.

Programme

From 14 to 17 April, the conference will feature plenary sessions, scientific communications, and moments of discussion devoted to the history of chemistry, the atomic–molecular theory, and the foundations of the discipline.

The events will be hosted by the University of Palermo, across three venues: Palazzo Chiaromonte–Steri, the Aula Magna of the Department of Law, and the Aula Magna of the Department of Engineering. This choice highlights the city where Cannizzaro received his education and where a decisive part of his scientific career began.

Read the full programme.

Visit the event website for information on registration fees, procedures, and deadlines.

Why Cannizzaro, why Palermo

“Celebrating Stanislao Cannizzaro today means recognising not only the scientific value of his work, but also the extraordinary unity of science, civic engagement, and educational mission that characterised his entire life,” notes Prof. Antonella Maggio (University of Palermo), member of the Steering Committee of the Thematic Group for the Dissemination of Chemical Culture.

Cannizzaro played a leading role in the Sicilian uprisings of 1848, was a patriot of the Italian Risorgimento, a senator of the Kingdom of Italy, and a reformer of education. His vision of science—understood as a tool of progress, freedom, and nation-building—made him a reference point for generations of scholars.
In 1871, he founded the Gazzetta Chimica Italiana, the first national chemistry journal, which later became the official publication of the Italian Chemical Society, helping shape the scientific and institutional identity of the Italian chemical community.

Palermo, his birthplace, is the ideal setting for this commemoration: it is here that Cannizzaro taught, served as rector, and contributed to the cultural renewal of the University, strengthening the city’s scientific profile. The event therefore aims both to honour an exemplary figure and to inspire contemporary reflection on the role of science in society, on education, and on the civic responsibilities of intellectuals.

Contributions

The scientific community is invited to submit original contributions focusing on the figure of Stanislao Cannizzaro and on the scientific, cultural, and political context of the nineteenth century.

The conference aims to offer an interdisciplinary forum for discussion among historians of science, chemists, scholars of the social sciences and education, with particular attention to the circulation of scientific and political ideas in nineteenth-century Europe.

Essential Guidelines:

Duration of presentations: approximately 20 minutes
Abstract in English or Italian (priority given to abstracts in English)
Maximum length: 2 pages, including references, following the template available on the website
At least one author must be registered for the conference
Abstract submission deadline: 1 March 2026

Abstract templates can be downloaded from the dedicated page