Symposium Schedule

Ralph & Helen Oesper Symposium

Friday, October 2, 2026
9:00 AM
Digital Futures
3080 Exploration Ave

Cincinnati, OH  45206

513-556-5600

https://ucdigitalfutures.com/

Visit the Oesper website for more information

TENTATIVE Symposium Schedule
**Speakers are in no particular order; TBD
Time Speaker
9:30 George Stan, Department Head, Dept. of Chemsitry, University of Cincinnati
Welcome and Introductory remarks
Session Chair:  Ashley Ross, University of Cincinnati
9:40-10:10 Brian Chait, The Rockefeller University  
"The Graduate Student Who Changed My Science"
10:10-10:40

Christian Brückner, University of Connecticut

"The Breaking and Mending of Porphyrins: Altering the Porphyrin Framework"

10:40-11:10

Masahiko Taniguchi, North Carolina State University 

"PhotochemCAD: A web and smartphone app and database for absorption and fluorescence spectra"

11:10-11:40

Patchanita Thamyongkit, Chulalongkorn University

"Transforming Molecular Phthalocyanines into Functional Catalysts for Electrochemical Energy Conversion"

Lunch 11:45am-1:20pm
Session Chair: Hairong Guan, University of Cincinnati
1:30-2:00

Suzanne E. Lapi, McMaster University

"Catalyzing Molecular Invention via Industry-Academia Collaborations"

2:00-2:30

Gabriela Schlau-Cohen, MIT

"Photocatalysis in a new light: Bioinspired approaches for enhanced reactivity"

2:30-3:00

Erick Leite Bastos, University of São Paulo

"Transition-Metal Catalyzed Olefin Amination"

   
Coffee Break 3:00-3:40pm
Session Chair: Jimmy Jiang, University of Cincinnati
4:00-4:45

Jonathan Lindsey, North Carolina State University (2026 Oesper Awardee)

"The Venerable Tetrapyrroles – Ancient Molecules, Brilliant Future"

 
5:30-6:40 Poster Session & Reception at lobby area
6:50-7:00 Announcement and presentation of awards to the best poster presenters (innovative work, inventive work & clearly presented & communicated work)
7:00 Banquet in room 140


7:00 Banquet (reservations are required) 

REGISTRATION UNTIL SEPTEMBER 24, 2026
https://www.acscincy.org/events 

 

8:00
ACS business followed by after-dinner speaker, Reza Ghiladi, North Carolina State University
The Pigments of Life – Colorful Reflections on Jonathan S. Lindsey