The 53rd IUPAC General Assembly and 50th World Chemistry Congress, held at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, welcomed over 3,000 delegates from 82 countries. Hosted by Institut Kimia Malaysia (IKM), the event was guided by a distinguished International Advisory Board chaired by Prof. Ehud Keinan (President, IUPAC) and co-chaired by Datuk Dr. Soon Ting Kueh (President, IKM).
Key Discussions at the IUPAC General Assembly
Held from 12 to 17 July, the General Assembly included meetings of the Executive Board, Science Board, eight IUPAC Divisions, and multiple Committees. A major topic was the relocation of IUPAC’s Head Office from the USA to Europe. Dr. Bipul Saha (India) chaired meetings of the Committee on Chemistry and Industry (COCI) and co-led sessions on Chemistry Entrepreneurship and Crop Protection Chemistry. A vibrant networking session with young chemists, jointly hosted with the International Young Chemist Network (IYCN), fostered engagement between emerging scientists and IUPAC leadership.
Joint Opening Ceremony and Awards
The Joint Opening Ceremony on 14 July featured keynote speeches and prestigious awards:
*IUPAC-Solvay International Award for Young Chemists: Awarded to rising talents from India, Türkiye, USA, China, Pakistan, and others for research excellence.
*IUPAC Distinguished Women in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering: Twelve women from across the globe were honoured for their outstanding contributions in academia, industry, and policy.
Plenary Lectures
*Prof. Peter Mahaffy: Chemistry’s Role in a Sustainable Future
*Prof. David Winkle: AI in Drug Discovery
World Chemistry Leadership Meeting (WCLM): WCLM explored the theme: Trust in Science and the Right to Science. Thought leaders, including representatives from ACS, RSC, Yale, and Cambridge, addressed science communication, ethics, equity, and digital transformation.
IUPAC Council Decisions
The Council, IUPAC’s highest governing body, met on 15–16 July and approved key decisions:
*Relocation of Head Office to Europe
*Admission of four new member countries: Estonia, Guatemala, Peru, and Singapore
*Adoption of updates to nomenclature and atomic weights
*China selected as host for IUPAC 2031
50th World Chemistry Congress Highlights
Held from 14 to 19 July, the Congress featured symposia and workshops clustered around:
*Core Chemistry Disciplines
*Chemistry and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
*Thematic Innovations such as AI, safety, and green chemistry
Noteworthy lectures included:
*Prof. Chi-Huey Wong on glycoengineered vaccines
*Prof. Zhaomin Hou on organometallic catalysts
*Prof. Omar Yaghi on climate, AI, and reticular chemistry
*Prof. Paul Anastas on the Stockholm Declaration on Chemistry for the Future
Contributions from Indian Scientists
Indian researchers made impactful presentations on topics including:
*AI in agriculture, carbon capture, nano urea, and chemical safety
*Ethics in science, public perception of chemistry, and biosecurity
Youth and Safety Initiatives
The IUPAC-IYCN Young Chemist Programme focused on safety training and responsible practices. Dr. Bipul Saha and international experts led workshops addressing regional experiences and digital tools for safety education.
Conclusion
As per the press release, IUPAC 2025 in Kuala Lumpur reaffirmed chemistry’s role in solving global challenges and promoting sustainability. Through collaborative science, policy dialogue, and global participation, IUPAC continues to foster innovation, ethics, and education for a better future.
