For the John van Geuns lecture series at the UvA, renowned international scientists are invited to present their research. Below you can find a list of lectures during the years 2005-2011.

A list of lectures from 2012 onwards can be found here.
Upcoming lectures are presented here.

2005

17-3-2005
Prof. M. Blanchard-Desce (University of Rennes)
Smart nanoscale NLO-probes for nonlinear microscopies: from imaging to sensing

23-3-2005
Prof. Valery Fokin (the Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA)
Copper in Synthesis and Chemical Biology: Old Dog, New Tricks

25-4-2005
Prof.dr. Karl Kleinermanns, Heinrich-Heine Universität Düsseldorf
Laser spectroscopy and photochemistry of isolated peptides and base pairs

26-4-2005
Dr. Pim Stemmer (Chief Scientific Officer and Founder of the Avidia Research Institute, USA)
Molecular breeding of enzymes, pathways and genomes by DNA shuffling

9-5-2005
Prof. Laurens D.A. Siebbeles (Opto-Electronic Materials Section, DelftChemTech, TU Delft/FOM Instituut Rijnhuizen)
The ultimate mobility and photogeneration efficiency of charge carriers in the conjugated polymer MEH-PPV

31-5-2005
prof.dr Massimo Olivucci (Universita' di Siena, Italy)\
Towards Accurate Computations in Photobiology

3-6-2005
Dr. Jos Oomens (FOM Institute for Plasma Physics “Rijnhuizen”, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands)
IR spectroscopy of ionic species in the gas phase

7-6-2005
Prof. Tohru Fukuyama (Tokyo University, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences)
Synthetic studies on heterocyclic natural products

8-6-2005
Prof. Dalibor Sames, Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York
C-H Bond Functionalization in complex Organic Synthesis

20-6-2005
Prof. Tomohiko Ohwada, University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Superacid-Catalyzed Cyclization Reactions to Functionalize Aromatic Rings

16-9-2005
Prof. Dr. Markus Sauer (Universität Bielefeld)
Photophysics of Single Molecules and Multichromophoric Systems

27-9-2005
Prof. Cesare Gennari (Universita' di Milano, Dipartimento di Chimica Organica e Industriale)
Rh-Catalysed Asymmetric Reactions with a Dynamic Library of Chiral Tropos Phosphorus Ligands

5-10-2005
Prof. Joseph Hupp (Northwestern University (USA))
Coordination Chemistry and Functional Supramolecular Assemblies

13-10-2005
Prof. Saverio Santi (Università degli Studi di Padova, Italy)
Redox-triggered molecular switches: Electronic communication in heterobimetallic mixed valence complexes

2-11-2005
Dr. Wutharath Chin (Laboratoire Francis Perrin, URA 2453 CNRS-CEA DSM/DRECAM/SPAM, CEA Saclay)
Secondary Structures of Short Peptide Chains In the Gas Phase Investigated by IR/UV Spectroscopy

10-11-2005
Prof. Dr. Albrecht Berkessel (Institut fuer Organische Chemie, Universiteit Keulen)
Novel Biomimetic and Organocatalytic Process for Organic Synthesis

15-11-2005
Dr. Robert A Stockman, School of Chemical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
Combining Two-Directioral Synthesis and Tandem Reactions: Developing Efficient Strategies for Synthesis

2006

24-2-2006
Prof. Luciano Canovese (Università Ca' Foscari, Venezia, Italy)
Pyridylthioethes: A promising class of polydentate ligands in the palladium organometallic chemistry

31-3-2006
Prof.dr Gerhard Erker (Wilhelms Universität Münster)
Functional Group Chemistry at the Group 4 Metallocenesl

6-6-2006
Prof. Dr. Romas Kazlauskas, University of Minnesota, Dept. of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biophysics & The BioTechnology Institute, Saint Paul, USA
How enzymes acquire new catalytic activities

27-10-2006
Prof. Kin Shing Chan (Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong)
Activation and Supramolecular Chemistry of Metalloporphyrins

27-10-2006
Prof. Dr. Frank Würthner (Universität Würzburg)
Supramolecular Dye Chemistry: Functional Molecular Assemblies and Materials

4-12-2006
Dr. Anne Débarre, (Laboratoire Aimé Cotton, CNRS, Université Paris XI, Orsay, France)
Single nanoobjects studied by fluorescence or Raman spectroscopy

2007

11-6-2007
Prof. Kay Severin (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL))
Chemistry with Organometallic Halfsandwich Complexes: from Sensors to Catalysts

27-6-2007
Prof. Donato Aranda, (Chemical Engineering Department of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro)
Sustainable chemistry and biofuels

28-6-2007
Prof L. Mandolini, University of Rome
The Dynamic Covalent Chemistry of Cyclophane Formaldehyde Acetals

29-6-2007
Prof. Dr. Rainer Haag (Institut für Chemie und Biochemie, Freie Universitaet Berlin)
Functional Dendritic Architectures for Catalysis and Drug Delivery

2-7-2007
Dr. Max Kreiter, (MPI Polymerforschung, Mainz, BRD)
Locally enhanced optical fields in metallic nanostructures and their influence on molecular fluorescence

3-7-2007
Prof. Fahmi Himo (Department of Biotechnology, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden)
Quantum Chemical Modeling of Catalytic Processes

16-7-2007
Prof. Hiroshi Miyasaka (Osaka University)

27-8-2007
Prof. dr. John P. Perdew, (Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston)
Simple density functional for solids and surfaces

26-6-2007
Prof. dr. Herbert Plenio, ( Technical University Darmstadt)
N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands in Olefin Metathesis Catalysts

18-10-2007
Prof. Eric Vauthey (University of Geneva, Switzerland)
Ultrafast excited-state dynamics of multichromophoric systems

2-11-2007
Prof.Dr. Karsten Meyer(Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany)
Small Molecule Activation at Low-Valent Uranium Complexes Leading to Charge-Separation and Chemical Transformation

6-11-2007
Dr. Martijn Werts, (Université de Rennes 1, France)
Not so bright and shiny nanoparticles. The quenching of molecular fluorescence in self-assembled constructs of organic chromophores and metal particles

9-11-2007
Klaus H. Theopold (University of Delaware)
The beauty of 'Chrome' -- new chemistry of a colorful metal

16-11-2007
Prof.dr. Pierre Braunstein (Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination (UMR 7177 CNRS), Université Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, France)
Heterofunctional Ligands: From Homogeneous Catalysts to 1-D Bimetallic Wires

26-11-2007
Dr. Eléna Ishow, (ENS Cachan, Paris, France)
Two-photon emissive holographic recording using bulk azo photomigration

13-12-2007
Bradford B. Wayland (Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania)
One-electron Reactions of Metalloporphyrins in Substrate Activation and Living Radical Polymerization

2008

10-1-2008
prof. Devens Gust (Arizona State University)
What Photosynthesis Can Teach Us about Solar Energy Conversion

23-1-2008
Prof.dr. R. Willem (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Polymer Science and Structural Chemistry)
Grafted organotin catalysts. An opportunity for novel applications and a playground for advanced interface NMR

28-1-2008
Prof. Goverdhan Mehta (Indian Institute of Technology, Bangalore, India)
Total Synthesis of Bioactive Natural Products: Complex Targets -> General Solutions

28-2-2008
Prof. M. Pfeffer (Université Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, France)
Recent achievements in the applications of cyclometalated compounds: from Catalysis to Medicinal Chemistry

29-2-2008
Prof. P. Pale (Université Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, France)
The coinage metals in organic synthesis: from medicinal chemistry to catalysis

2-4-2008
Prof. Avraham Yaron (the department of biological chemistry of the Weizmann Institute of Science)
The molecular wiring and road signs of the nervous system

8-4-2008
Professor John R. Sowa, Jr., Seton, Hall University
Catalysis as Means to Perform Organic Synthesis: Cheaper, Cleaner and Greener

16-4-2008
Prof. Peter Belser, Fribourg, Switzerland
From Dinuclear Metal Complexes to Functionalized Photonic Devices

28-5-2008
Prof. Benedetta Mennucci (University of Pisa, Italy)
Formation and relaxation of excited states in solution: a quantum mechanical picture

2-7-2008
Dr. Steven O. Nielsen
Nanoparticle localization energy at the oil/water interface: How to fix Young's equation

10-10-2008
Professor Per-Ola Norrby, University of Gothenburg, Department of Chemistry, Sweden
Homogeneous catalysis and the death of the 18e rule

24-10-2008
Prof. A.P. de Silva (Queen’s University Belfast, UK)
2008: A Small Space Odyssey with Luminescent Molecules

14-11-2008
Prof. Dr. Nils Metzler-Nolte (Bioanorganische Chemie, Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum, Germany)
Bioorganometallic Chemistry: Synthetic Strategies and Some Applications for Metal-Peptide Bioconjugates

17-11-2008
Dr. LingFeng Zhang (Linköping, Sweden)
The Materials, Devices and Processing of Polymer Solar Cells

26-11-2008
Prof. Piétrick Hudhomme, Université d'Angers, Laboratoire Chimie, Ingénierie Moléculaire d'Angers (CIMA)
Synthesis and Electron / Energy Transfer Properties of Donor - Acceptor Assemblies incorporating Tetrathiafulvalene, Fullerene C60, Perylene Mono- or Diimide

4-12-2008
Prof. Dr. N. van Hulst, The Institute of Photonic Sciences, Barcelona, Spain
Light control on the nanoscale by plasmonic antennas and shaped pulses

12-12-2008
Prof. Eiji Ihara (Department of Material Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, Japan)
Poly(substituted methylene) Synthesis: Pd-mediated Polymerization of Diazocarbonyl Compounds

2009

21-4-2009
Prof. Andy Whiting (University of Durham, UK)

18-11-2009
Prof. dr. K.J. Cavell (School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales UK)
Expanded-Ring N-Heterocyclic Carbenes: Novel Ligands and Novel Chemistry

2010

28-4-2010
Prof. Dr. Werner Nau, Jacobs University Bremen
Cucurbiturils: Macrocycles with New Opportunities

29-6-2010
Prof. Xumu Zhang, (Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey)
Practical asymmetric hydrogenation and hydroformylation reactions

13-9-2010
prof. Umit Ozkan, Ohio State University, USA
Catalysis Research and its Impact on Energy and Environment: Fuel Cells and Catalysis

15-10-2010
Dr. Seth Olsen, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
Quantum Chemical Perspectives on Structure-Property Relationships in Environmentally Sensitive Methine Dyes

2-11-2010
Dr. Tatyana Polenova (Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware)
NMR Spectroscopy of Protein Assemblies, Vanadium-Containing Haloperoxidases and Bioinorganic Materials

23-11-2010
Dr. Christian Hulteberg, director of Hulteberg Chemistry & Engineering, Sweden, and expert for the European Commission within the International Energy Agency
Renewable Hydrogen

2011

16-3-2011
Prof. Unni Olsbye, Centre of materials science and nanotechnology (SMN), University of Oslo
Methane conversion to higher hydrocarbons - the methyl halide route as compared to conventional, synthesis gas and methanol based routes

25-3-2011
Prof. Dr. Paul S. Pregosin (Laboratorium für Anorganische Chemie, ETH Zürich)
NMR and Homogeneous Catalysis: from Allyls to Anions

12-5-2011
Prof. Pavel Kocovsky, Department of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, UK
Silicon Reagents in Asymmetric Organocatalysis

1-6-2011
Prof. Niels Harrit (University of Copenhagen, Denmark)
Towards "Molecular Movies". Structural tracking in liquid solution of transient excited states of metal complexes

7-6-2011
Dr. Luca Ghiringhelli (Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, Berlin)
Free gold clusters: beyond the static, mono-structure description

20-6-2011
Dr. Jonathan R. Nitschke (Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge)
'New architectures and functions from complex chemical systems

30-6-2011
Prof. Pierre Audebert (Ecole Normale Superieure de Cachan, France)
Tetrazines: New molecules and building blocks for functional electrochemically and optically active materials and devices

8-7-2011
Prof. Bradley Smith (University of Notre Dame, USA)
Fluorescent and Chemiluminescent Squaraine Rotaxanes for Bioimaging

27-7-2011
Prof. Seiichi Inoue (Yokohama National University, Japan)
Stereoselective methods for natural product synthesis

26-8-2011
Prof. Chao-Ping Hsu (Academica Sinica, Taiwan)
Theories and applications for electronic coupling in electron transfer and excitation energy transfer

13-9-2011
Prof. Scott E. Denmark (University of Illinois, Urbana, USA)
Understanding Asymmetric Phase Transfer Catalysis through Chemoinformatics

13-9-2011
Prof. Javier Perez-Ramirez (ETH Zurich)
Scale up of hierarchical zeolite catalysts - Science fiction or science reality?

20-9-2011
Dr. Barbara Milani (Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Farmaceutiche Universita' di Trieste)
Pd-catalyzed polymerizations: large effects induced by a subtle unbalance of the chelating ancillary ligands

22-9-2011
Prof. Piétrick Hudhomme, Université d'Angers, Laboratoire MOLTECH-Anjou
Electron rich molecular clips for hosting neutral electrodeficient guests

22-9-2011
Prof. Thomas Bligaard, Stanford University, USA
Towards in silico design of heterogeneous catalysts

4-10-2011
Prof. Frank Glorius (Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Organisch Chemisches Institut)
N-Heterocyclic carbenes in catalysis and more: interesting concepts!

15-11-2011
Prof. Aldo Steinfeld (ETH Zurich and Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland)
Liquid Fuels from Water, CO2, and Solar Energy

5-12-2011
Dr. Nick C. Polfer, University of Florida, Department of Chemistry, Gainesville, USA
Dissociation chemistry of peptides in mass spectrometers

7-12-2011
Prof. David Chandler, University of California, Berkeley
Principles of self-assembly, where kinetics can trump thermodynamics