Keynote Events
About Keynote Events
Kick off your ACS Fall 2025 in-person or digital meeting experience with the ChemLuminary Award and Board of Directors Open Session on Sunday, then join us for the Kavli Foundation Lecture Series on Monday and Tuesday.
ACS Open Board Session and ChemLuminary Awards Program
Sunday, August 17 | 4:00 鈥� 6:30 PM ET
The Board of Directors, led by Wayne Jones, will be hosting the Fall Board Open Session for ACS members. This Open Session will be followed by the ChemLuminary Award reception. Current ACS President, Dorothy Phillips, and ACS President-Elect, Rigoberto Hernandez, will be announcing and delivering the awards selected by the ACS Divisions and Committees. View a list of the awards.
The Kavli Lecture Series
Supported by
The Kavli Foundation Emerging Leader in Chemistry
Monday, August 18 | 5:00 - 6:00 PM ET聽
Semiconducting Polymers for Next-Generation Bioelectronic Interfaces
Sahika Inal,聽Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Bioengineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Sahika Inal is an Associate Professor of Bioengineering at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. Her research explores the mixed ionic and electronic charge transport in organic materials and the development of electronic devices that interface with biological systems for signal recording and stimulation. She is a Fellow of the Royal 中国365bet中文官网 of Chemistry and has received numerous accolades, including the ACS PMSE Young Investigator Award (2022), the Beilby Medal and Prize (2022), and the Journal of Materials Chemistry Lectureship (2022). Dr. Inal has authored over 135 publications, which have collectively garnered more than 15,000 citations.
Talk Abstract:
In this talk, I will introduce organic mixed ionic鈥揺lectronic conductors (OMIECs), a class of semiconducting polymers uniquely suited for bioelectronic interfaces due to their ability to transport both electronic and ionic charges. I will discuss how these materials enable the development of organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) for sensitive and selective biochemical sensing. Building on this foundation, I will show how targeted polymer design allows us to engineer devices that respond to diverse external stimuli and mimic key neuronal behaviors. These capabilities open the door to integrating OMIECs into active-matrix arrays for adaptive sensing, memory formation, and real-time preprocessing of visual information鈥攍aying the groundwork for future bioinspired neuromorphic systems. Underpinning all of these advances are fundamental studies that link polymer structure to function, highlighting how molecular-level design can drive innovation in next-generation bioelectronics.
The Fred Kavli Innovations in Chemistry
Tuesday, August 19 | 5:00 - 6:00 PM ET聽
Regenerative Engineering: Breakthroughs in Science
Professor Sir Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D., K.C.S.L.
University Professor, UConn & CEO, The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering
Dr. Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D., K.C.S.L., is a University Professor at the University of Connecticut and a globally recognized pioneer in Regenerative Engineering. He holds distinguished professorships in Orthopaedic Surgery, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, and Biomedical Engineering. Founder and CEO of The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering, he is renowned for his groundbreaking work in biomaterials, stem cell science, and nanotechnology. A recipient of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, Dr. Laurencin has also received top honors from the American Chemical 中国365bet中文官网, Materials Research 中国365bet中文官网, and AIChE. He was named 2023 Inventor of the Year and is celebrated as one of the world鈥檚 leading engineer-physician-scientists.
Talk Abstract:
We define the field of Regenerative Engineering as the Convergence of Advanced Materials Science and Chemistry, Stem Cell Science, Physics, Developmental Biology, and Clinical Translation for the regeneration of complex tissues and organ systems. Work in the area of musculoskeletal tissue regeneration has focused on a number of breakthrough technologies. Polymeric nanofiber systems create the prospect for biomimetics that recapitulate connective tissue ultrastructure allowing for the design of biomechanically functional matrices, and next generation matrices that create a niche for stem cell activity. Polymer and polymer-ceramic systems can be utilized for the regeneration of bone. Through the use of inducerons, small molecules fostering induction, the design of regeneration-inducing materials can be realized. Hybrid matrices possessing micro and nano architecture can create advantageous systems for regeneration, while the use of classic principles of chemistry, materials science, and engineering can lead to the development of three-dimensional systems suitable for functional regeneration of tissues. Work in the creation of synthetic artificial stem cells present prospects for joint restoration. Novel materials and chemistry provide unique opportunities for regeneration. Through convergence of a number of technologies, engaging grand challenges is possible.
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