1. You have served as the Chair of the ECSOC conference since 2000, accompanying this conference for 26 years. As we reach this milestone of the 30th edition, what new breakthroughs do you hope this edition will bring while building on its traditions?

Over these years, we have seen a steady increase in the participation of researchers, especially from regions with limited resources to attend global events. This, combined with the fact that it is free of charge thanks to the support of MDPI and other organizations such as USC, has transformed it into an international resource.

2. Since its launch in 1997, ECSOC series conference has become the longest-running electronic conference in the world, always maintaining a completely free participation model. In your view, what irreplaceable qualities have nearly three decades of online operation brought to this conference?

It has demonstrated that in the world of science (in this case, chemistry), values such as altruism are still preserved (a large number of collaborators have participated in the scientific committees without compensation) and that it can be defined as a field without barriers.

3. ECSOC-30 covers a wide range of topics, including organic synthesis, medicinal and natural products chemistry, supramolecular chemistry, and physical organic chemistry. What do you see as the most exciting emerging frontiers in synthetic organic chemistry today?

As the name suggests, the conference aims to provide a global forum for exchanging advances and developments in synthetic organic chemistry without establishing defined limits to its scope. Supramolecular and materials chemistry are experiencing significant progress, but organic synthesis and medicinal or natural product chemistry, which constitute a very important foundation for the advancement of knowledge, should by no means be relegated to a secondary role.

4. With over four decades of academic research experience, you have achieved breakthroughs in the fields of sustainable chemistry and the synthesis of pharmaceutically active compounds. Based on this extensive academic career, what qualities do you think an outstanding researcher most needs? What is the single most important piece of advice you would share with today’s early career researchers?

Currently, I place more hope in good researchers whose work maintains a healthy foundation and a good substrate for outstanding researchers to emerge. Therefore, I can only recommend perseverance and dedication, as enthusiasm is presumed to be inherent in anyone embarking on a research career.

5. Do you believe the future of organic chemistry will rely increasingly on interdisciplinary collaboration? Which cross-disciplinary areas are particularly promising?

YES, the more specialized knowledge becomes, the more necessary collaboration between different areas becomes, and organic chemistry is a foundation and tool for many fields, from the various specialties of analytical, inorganic, and physical chemistry, to other disciplines such as biochemistry, pharmacology, clinical medicine, and industrial processes.

6. Could you share some of your past conference experiences? Did these conferences assist you in promoting your research results, expanding your network, finding potential collaborators, or advancing your career, etc.?

My participation in ECSOC has opened up opportunities for me to establish relationships with research groups from other countries, which have been very fruitful, subsequently allowing for the exchange of researchers in training.

7. If you could say just one sentence to a young researcher who is hesitating to submit a paper and attend the conference, what would you say? What do you most want them to know that they can gain from ECSOC-30?

Visit the website, browse through the content of our previous editions, and you’ll likely find that your findings fit within the ECSOC framework. Above all, don’t hesitate to contact other participants to exchange ideas. Remember, if there’s one thing that’s true in organic chemistry, it’s that “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants,” as Newton wrote to Hooke in the 17th century.