Finnish Chemical Society Young Researcher Prize 2025

Finnish Chemical Society Young Researcher Prize 2025

The recipient of the Young Researcher Award is chosen among the Master Theses submitted by the Finnish Universities in the field of chemistry or chemistry engineering. Among the Theses from 2024, the Finnish Chemical Society Young Researcher Prize in 2025 is awarded to Siarhei Balshakou for his Master of Science in Technology Thesis entitled” Production of fuel fractions from renewable ethene-propene mixture over Ni/HZSM-5”. The Academic research project has been completed at LUT University. 

Air traffic, especially long-haul intercontinental flights, is predicted to grow rapidly, and with it the demand for aviation fuels will also continue to grow. This will significantly increase the need for liquid hydrocarbons. At the same time, as traditional fossil raw materials decrease, alternative non-fossil fuels must be developed that meet traditional aircraft engine requirements.

A topic of particular interest in this Thesis is the catalytic conversion of light olefins into synthetic, liquid fuels. The research focuses on the oligomerization of ethylene and propylene. These are the most widely used olefinic feedstocks worldwide to produce practical aviation fuel fractions. Alternatively, both monomers can be sustainably synthesized from non-fossil sources, such as e-methanol as part of the “methanol-to-olefins” process, for example when producing bioethanol from wood, grass or crops, or from degradable waste polymers.

Although the oligomerization of olefins has been known for decades, finding suitable catalysts for the reaction remains a significant challenge. These catalysts require long-term stability and selectivity towards specific fractions. In addition, the catalysts must enable high conversion levels and yields, and be economically viable under industrial conditions. Furthermore, the catalysts should only promote the formation of linear carbon chains, as the formation of branched or cyclic hydrocarbons reduces the fuel utility of the resulting mixtures.

In the experimental part of the study, an acidic mesoporous zeolite (HZSM-5) with a Si/Al ratio of 30% was used, in addition to which the Ni content was varied (0 wt%, 0.42 wt% and 0.63 wt%) in the applied wet impregnation method. Before the experiments, the catalysts were characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) methods.

According to the findings in the Thesis research, operating conditions such as temperature, pressure and turnover rate greatly influence the chemical composition transformation, product yield and structural distribution. Although lower temperatures thermodynamically favor oligomerization, temperatures above 300 °C favor the increase of gasoline-like fractions. Furthermore, the selectivity for the formation of the jet fuel fraction increases from 48% to 65% when the pressure is doubled from 20 bar to 40 bar.

The incorporation of nickel particles into the zeolite framework of the catalyst dramatically changes the catalyst performance and product distribution. At 300 °C, 30 bar pressure and ethylene feed, nearly 100% conversion is achieved within 90 min, compared to approximately 10% conversion in the corresponding catalyst sample without added nickel.

The evaluation committee has decided on the award proposal based on the systematic and coherent design, implementation and analysis of the research work. The author of the work demonstrates extensive mastery of the chemical foundations of the work and the methodological expertise related to the analysis of the results.

In addition, clear and precise reporting of the results of the work is likely to complement the view of the importance of chemical expertise and understanding of methods as a starting point for broader and socially significant chemical expertise, especially in such a topical topic as sustainable aviation fuel product development.

The Master’s Thesis in Technology presented for the award is now available at the following website: https://lutpub.lut.fi/handle/10024/167702

The chemistry-themed pub quiz held in English was a success

The chemistry-themed pub quiz held in English was a success

(EN) In February, history was made when the first ever English-language chemistry pub quiz was held at Bruuveri in Kamppi shopping centre. The event was the brainchild of Jan Deska, Robert Luxenhofer, Pekka Joensuu and Steward Makkonen-Graig, and was organised by Finnish Chemical Society.

The event was more than successful and more than sixty people attended.

The event planners said that this was a good first real opportunity to activate international activities. The aim is not to segregate international members but rather to enable them to participate more fully in the activities of the society.

New events are already planned.

Below you can see photos from the pub quiz.

IUPAC GWB (Global Women’s Breakfast) in in Finland 11.2.2025

The seminar was given by Associate Professor Nanna Myllys.

(EN) IUPAC GWB (Global Women’s Breakfast) in Finland 2025, 11.2.2025 9-10 am,

On 11 February 2025, the IUPAC GWB2025 connected 449 events in 78 countries. Held in conjunction with the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the goal of “The Breakfast” is to establish an active network of people to overcome the barriers to gender equality in science. Over the last seven years, nearly 2500 GWB have been held in 100 countries.

The Finnish Chemical Society organised a GWB event at the Chemicum of the University of Helsinki. Traditionally, the speaker is a female chemist, and this time the seminar was given by Associate Professor Nanna Myllys. Here is a short summary of the topic:

Formation, Clustering, and Atmospheric Impact of Clusterable Organic Compounds

Atmospheric aerosol particles have a critical impact on Earth’s radiative balance and human health. Oxygenated organic molecules play an important role in the formation and growth of aerosol particles. To contribute to initial steps of particle formation, a compound must either condense from the gas to the particle phase or undergo cluster-phase proton-transfer or other chemical reaction. I define a clusterable organic compound (COC) to be an oxygenated organic molecule which can participate stable cluster formation under atmospheric conditions. Due to the limited knowledge of the formation, structures, and properties of COCs, the exact mechanisms for the formation of aerosol particles remain puzzling. In this presentation, I will show our recent findings of COC formation and clustering mechanisms as well as discuss why accurate quantum chemical studies are needed to understand molecule–climate integration.

Chemistry theme day at the Heureka Science Centre 6.3.2025

The Heureka Chemistry Night will take place on 6 March 2025 at the Heureka Science Centre. 

The Chemistry Theme Day will again be organised at Heureka in cooperation with the Finnish Chemical Society and the Finnish ForestProducts Engineers’ Association r.y on 6.3.2025 The programme includes workshops and presentations for specially invited school groups, and in the evening, from 16-23, the programme is open to anyone interested in chemistry.

Throughout the evening, the Heureka Science Show will have a chemistry theme, with short science presentations and film clips in the auditorium to discuss the veracity of the chemistry presented. The event will also showcase career paths and opportunities to study and work in chemistry.

Heureka’s exhibitions are open all evening.

There are reduced ticket prices for the event. Read more and purchase tickets on the Heureka website.

Gust. Komppa Award 2024

The Gust. Komppa Award 2024 was announced on 13.12.2024 at the Christmas meeting of the Finnish Chemical Society at the National Theatre. The Komppa Prize is awarded annually for the best chemistry dissertation from the previous year. The selection committee suggested to divide the 2024 Gust. Komppa award between Dr.Tech. Sofia Julin from Aalto University and PhD Christina Jäger from the University of Helsinki. Read the statement below. (Read in Finnish here.)

Christina Jäger & Sofia Julin. Photos © Maarja Kotkas.

The Gust. Komppa award review board met on October 10, 2024 to make a selection of the best chemistry dissertation of 2023. Nominations for the award were solicited from each department of chemistry, and all of them were allowed to nominate up to three candidates. A total of 13 proposed high-quality dissertation theses arrived from the universities. 

The evaluation board would like to once again thank in general the particularly high standard of all proposed works. The works broadly represented chemistry research and its social relevance. The selection board reached its consensus decision after detailed discussion and consideration.

The basis of the evaluation was the scientific merit of the dissertations, the broad scope of the research and related methodological expertise, the focus of the narrative of scientific information, the possible scientific effectiveness of the works, the role of the researcher’s own work in the implementation of the work, and the visuality and readability of the dissertation work. 

The selection board proposes that the Gust. Komppa award in 2024 be divided between two chemistry doctoral studies. The selection committee suggests to divide the 2024 Gust. Komppa award between Dr.Tech. Sofia Julin from Aalto University and PhD Christina Jäger from the University of Helsinki.

In Sofia Julin‘s Doctoral thesis “DNA Origami as a Tool for Assembling Functional Biohybrid Nanomaterials”, the goal was to build functional biohybrid materials with high structural order. The “DNA origami” technique enables tailor-made, well-defined and highly reproducible DNA-based structures, and could therefore help develop more advanced functional nanomaterials. In particular, the research investigated how DNA origami can be used to control higher-order self-organization by customizing the local electrical charges of structures, the size and shape of the building units. At the same time, information is obtained on the effect of different DNA origami configurations on the dynamic, electrical and structural properties of bionanomaterials, which are involved in the self-organization of structures, the selective dismantling of structures, or the possibilities of using external stimuli to reorganize structures. 

The dissertation consisted of 4 articles published in international publication series and a high-quality summary. Various chemical structural analysis methods were widely applied in the doctoral research. As a whole, the dissertation research demonstrates excellent scientific competence and a fluent written description of the goals, results and impact of the research.

In Christina Jäger‘s Doctoral thesis “C-N Bond Formation via Ene Reactions and Cycloadditions of Enzymatically Generated Nitroso Compounds” enzymatic tools were developed that open new avenues for the formation of C-N bonds in organic synthetics. Expanding the range of available reactions with biocatalytic tools and enzymes is currently a hot topic in the field of biocatalysis. The findings of this Doctoral dissertation research reveal a particularly chemically favorable and functionally simple biocatalytic method that is widely applicable as a stand-alone tool, but can also be implemented in multistep and sequential reactions yielding valuable structural compounds in organic synthetics. A particular scientific breakthrough is the use of enzymes related to iron and copper to catalyze nitrosoene or nitroso-Diels-Alder reactions.

The dissertation is based on three high-level scientific publications, in addition to which the dissertation contains a particularly meritorious literature summary. The experimental part of the work includes a large collection of organic syntheses, with the help of which it has been possible to find out usable reaction conditions – and paths, but also reaction mechanisms. The results are essential in the further application of enzymes in, for example, biocatalysis and medicinal chemistry, especially in the development of stereoselective synthetics.

Both dissertations represent a very high scientific level, and they consist of several highly influential research articles representative of their field. In addition to this, the review board was very pleased that the work reflects a very broad methodological expertise, as a result of which various methods have been widely applied in the work for the development, production and analysis of the chemical objects under investigation.

The topics of the research selected for the award strengthen the view of the importance of basic research in chemistry as a basis for future applications. Award-winning works also demonstrate the high quality of chemistry research conducted at universities in Finland and the meaningful creation of new knowledge. The award committee hopes that the researchers who are now being awarded and their research work will also serve as role models, inspirers and encourage future chemists to delve deeper into the realization of chemical phenomena and solutions for sustainable development.

The award committee hereby unanimously proposes the shared awarding of the Gust. Komppa Award 2024 to Dr.Tech. Sofia Julin and PhD Christine Jäger.

International Chemists of the Finnish Chemical Society

The Finnish Chemical Society (= Suomalaisten Kemistien Seura in this context) invited a dozen international chemists from the metropolitan area to discuss their needs and wishes regarding activities (networking, company visits, events, excursions, English-language content of Kemia- magazine, etc.). 

The meeting took place on Thursday 26 September 2024 at the House of Science (Tieteiden talo) in Helsinki.

Since the event, Kemia-magazine has started to publish articles in English, initially 1-2 articles per month.

Events and communications in English will also be progressively increased to cater for this type of readership. Read more below.

Picture of the event

Upcoming events


(EN) “The February meeting” of the Finnish Chemical Society
(SKS) will be held at Orion on Thursday 30.1.2025 at 17:00 in connection with a company visit. The event will be hosted by VP Leena Otsomaa

Address: Orionintie 1 A, 02200 Espoo

Registration via this link.

Welcome to join us!

(EN) IUPAC Global Women Breakfast 2025, 11.02.2025 – hybrid event 

IUPAC GWB2025 is held 11 February 2025 in conjunction with the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the goal of “The Breakfast” is to establish an active network of people to overcome the barriers to gender equality in science. Over the last six years, nearly 2000 GWB have been held in 100 countries.

IUPAC GWB (Global Women’s Breakfast) in Finland 2025, 11.2.2025 9-10 am,

Chemicum (Lecture room to be announced later), University of Helsinki, A.I Virtasen aukio, 00560 Helsinki, hybrid event

Breakfast from 8.30 am next to the lecture room

Programme 9-10 am:

  • Welcome by Dr. Miia Mäntymäki
  • Presentation by Docent Nanna Myllys, University of Helsinki (Further details of the presentation will be announced later).

Register via link

Welcome!

The Chemistry Theme Day will again be organised at Heureka in cooperation with the Finnish Chemical Society and the Finnish ForestProducts Engineers’ Association r.y on 6.3.2025. The programme includes workshops and presentations for specially invited school groups, and in the evening, from 16-23, the programme is open to anyone interested in chemistry.

Throughout the evening, the Heureka Science Show will have a chemistry theme, with short science presentations and film clips in the auditorium to discuss the veracity of the chemistry presented. The event will also showcase career paths and opportunities to study and work in chemistry.

Heureka’s exhibitions are open all evening.

There are reduced ticket prices for the event. More information on the event will be available on the Heureka website from February.

(EN) Annual Meeting of the Finnish Chemical Society on Thursday 3 April 2025 at 17:00 at the Finnish National Gallery (Kiasma)

Before the meeting: 17-18 Guided tours of the Monira Al Qadir exhibition. The central theme of her art is oil and humanity’s complex relationship with this topical raw material. 

Participants in guided tours must be present at 16.50 at the latest.

The annual meeting will be held after the exhibition in the Kiasma seminar room.

Please register by 26.3.2025 via the link below.