International Conference "Frontiers in Chemistry, Armenia" (ArmChemFront 2013), organized jointly between the University of Groningen, the Netherlands, and Yerevan State University, Armenia, started in Yerevan on August 26.
This will be the first international chemistry symposium in Armenia to cover chemistry as a broad field. The conference will be an excellent platform to exchange new ideas and to discuss recent developments in diverse aspects of chemistry, and will be comprised of the following themes: Catalysis/Total Synthesis/Methodology/Bioorganic Chemistry/Chemical Biology/Supramolecular chemistry/Materials chemistry.
Renowned plenary and keynote speakers will present overviews of recent developments. In addition to 12 plenary and 8 keynote lectures, the scientific program will be complemented by 28 contributed lectures as well as poster presentations. The conference will bring together 105 specialists from 20 countries, including the USA, Japan, UK, France and Canada.
President of the National Academy of Science Radik Martirosyan says the conference will become a good platform for the scientists to exchange their experience and establish contacts. One of the major dimensions of the National Academy's activity, the international cooperation has already brought its results. Armenian scientists are on the leadership positions in the list of the CIS scientists, according to the Science Citation Index.
Matirosyan said that in Armenia chemistry was one of the most developed fields and greatly contributed to the country's economic development.
"Unfortunately, we are not able to reach the indicators we had before independence of Armenia yet. The country has to overtake arrears," he says.
The conference program will also include visiting several UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Monastery of Geghard, founded in the 4th century, Mother Cathedral of Holy Echmiadzin, One of the oldest churches in the world (5th century). 7th Century Archaeological Site of Zvartnots. ArmChemFront will be closed on 29, 2013.