The Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ) hosted the 2026 ICIQ Summer School from 20 to 22 July in Tarragona, bringing together around 100 Master’s, PhD and postdoctoral researchers alongside established scientists from different areas of chemistry. The programme included plenary lectures, scientific discussions and networking activities, as well as 12 oral communications and 44 poster presentations by early-career researchers.
Organised as part of ICIQ’s educational programme, the Summer School provides a forum for scientific exchange between researchers at different career stages and from diverse research backgrounds. Over three days, participants attended lectures covering a broad range of topics at the forefront of chemical research and had the opportunity to discuss their work with peers and internationally recognised scientists.
Among this year’s plenary speakers was Prof. David A. Leigh from the University of Manchester (United Kingdom), who highlighted the scientific environment fostered during the event. “It was a real pleasure to take part in the 2026 ICIQ Summer School. The programme featured an exceptionally stimulating range of topics and speakers, and I greatly enjoyed my lively discussions with the students and early-career researchers present. The scientific quality, organisation and warm hospitality were absolutely outstanding throughout. Unlike football, science doesn’t have to have losers for there to be winners!”
The poster and oral communication sessions enabled participants to present their research and receive feedback from the scientific community, encouraging discussion and the exchange of ideas across different disciplines. At the end of the Summer School, awards were presented in recognition of the best contributions. Brett L. Pollard (LMU Munich, Germany) and Marta Romero Ribas (ICIQ) received the awards for the best poster presentations, while Thomas Rigotti (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid) was recognised for the best oral communication.
“The 2026 ICIQ Summer School has been a truly enriching experience. Overall, it was a great opportunity to exchange ideas, broaden my scientific perspective, and connect with researchers from diverse backgrounds in an inspiring and international environment,” said Dr. Gala Ogalla, Group Coordinator in Prof. Antonio M. Echavarren’s group and a participant in the Summer School.
The 2026 edition was organised by the ICIQ group leaders Prof. Antonio M. Echavarren and Dr. Luis Escobar, and Judit Martínez, events manager at ICIQ. The scientific committee also included Prof. Rubén Martín, Prof. Beatriz Prieto-Simón and Prof. Katherine Villa.
“The 2026 ICIQ Summer School has been a fantastic experience. The combination of outstanding lectures, excellent oral and poster presentations, and the close interaction between internationally recognised scientists and early-career researchers created an inspiring scientific atmosphere. It has also been a privilege to contribute to the organization of the event together with Prof. Antonio Echavarren and Judit Martínez, whose dedication made this Summer School possible,” said Dr. Luis Escobar, ICIQ Group Leader and member of the organising committee.
The event forms part of ICIQ’s commitment to advanced training in chemistry and to supporting the development of early-career researchers. The 2026 ICIQ Summer School was supported by the Specialized Group in Organic Chemistry of the Royal Spanish Society of Chemistry (GEQOR–RSEQ), the Catalan Section of the Royal Spanish Society of Chemistry (STCAT–RSEQ), Johnson & Johnson, and the Severo Ochoa Programme (CEX2024-001469-S, funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033).
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