The 1st IKU-SPECTRA International Congress on Spectroscopy - ICS 2026 was held on 21-22 May 2026 at Akıngüç Auditorium and Art Center, Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus. The congress was organized within the framework of the IKU-SPECTRA Molecular Sciences and Spectroscopy Applied Research Center and the Spectroscopy@IKU ERA Chair Project.
The congress aimed to strengthen scientific interaction in the field of spectroscopy and related fıelds, foster international academic collaborations and provide a dynamic platform for young researchers. Over the course of two days, the program featured plenary lectures, keynote talks, oral presentations and poster sessions, covering current applications of spectroscopy across molecular sciences, chemistry, physics, materials research, environmental studies, atmospheric science and space-related research.
The opening ceremony included addresses by Prof. Dr. Gülce Öğrüç Ildız, Vice Rector of Istanbul Kültür University and Congress Chair; Prof. Dr. Fadime Üney Yüksektepe, Rector of Istanbul Kültür University; and Dr. Bahar Akıngüç Günver, Head of the Board of Trustees of Istanbul Kültür University.
At the opening ceremony of the congress, our Board of Trustees Chairperson Dr. Bahar Akıngüç Günver, our Rector Prof. Dr. Fadime Üney Yüksektepe, and our Vice Rector & Congress President Prof. Dr. Gülce Öğrüç Ildız delivered their speeches.
The scientific program brought together internationally recognized scholars as plenary lecturers. Prof. Małgorzata Barańska, Prof. Wei-Tao Yang, Prof. Peter Atkins, Prof. Rui Fausto, Prof. Jan C. Lundell and Prof. Mustafa Soylak, and an additional set of well-known scientists and young researchers which shared their scientific expertise and current perspectives in their respective research fields.
The second day of the congress hosted the official kick-off meeting of the Horizon Europe Spectroscopy@IKU ERA Chair Project, which is developed at IKU-SPECTRA under the WIDERA ERA-Chairs Program framework. By this occasion, the ERA-Chair project’s scientific objectives, research infrastructure development activities, capacity-building efforts, international collaborations and long-term vision for establishing a sustainable center of excellence in spectroscopy in Türkiye were presented.
As part of the congress program, a special award ceremony was also held in honor of Prof. Peter Atkins, Emeritus Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oxford. The “Excellence in Science and Education Award” was presented to Prof. Atkins by Istanbul Kültür University in recognition of his outstanding contributions to science, science education, and science communication and dissemination for more than half a century. While the ceremony took place within the congress program, it was presented as a distinct university award, reflecting Istanbul Kültür University’s commitment to scientific excellence, quality education, and academic values that inspire future generations, principles that also lie at the heart of IKU-SPECTRA.
IKU-SPECTRA ICS 2026 contributed significantly to strengthening the international visibility of IKU-SPECTRA and was aligned with Istanbul Kültür University’s commitment to enhance research capacity in spectroscopy, promoting interdisciplinary studies and developing sustainable scientific collaborations.
