The Chemistry Department of the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (UPRM) was the host for the international symposium on the spectroscope of bi-dimensional correlation in which international researchers participated.

As it was explained by doctor Belinda Pastrana, professor from the Chemistry Department and event organizer, the aforementioned technique is utilized to understand the interaction between proteins and molecules.

“It’s a quick way to obtain a high-quality product for the market and for the general population. Another of its purposes is to create pharmaceuticals and proteins that improve the quality of life. A third objective is for nanotechnology and new materials, to develop auto sufficient environmentally friendly technology, that utilizes natural resources,” explained Pastrana.

The symposium, which is held every two years, had not been celebrated in Puerto Rico since 1989, reported doctor Pastrana. The professor, whose research is about the behavior by pairs of the proteins, added that the activity, entitled Two Dimensional Correlation Sources (2DCOS), was the stage for researchers from various parts of the world to exhibit part of their theoretical work and explain how to apply it.

In fact, the symposium’s biggest attraction was the presence of doctor Isao Noda, of Proctor & Gamble, who discovered the bi-dimensional technique of spectroscopes, which was the primary topic of discussion at the activity. Noda, along with offering a workshop on his work, was the symposium’s keynote speaker.

Doctors José Luis Arrondo, Erik Goormaghtigh, Michel Pezolet, Lei Geng, Fegn Gai, and Peter Chen of the Universities of País Vasco, Brussels, Québec, Iowa, Pennsylvania and Spellman College in Atlanta, Georgia, respectively, all took part in the symposium.

Students also played an integral part of the conference, especially those of the UPRM chapter of the American Chemistry Society (SAQ by its Spanish acronym), who along with doctor Pastrana formed the organizing committee of 2DCOS.

According to Anitza Hernández, SAQ president, activities such as this one coincide with the organization’s goal, which is to promote the professional growth of students.

UPRM graduate and undergraduate students as well as students from UPR Cayey Campus and UPR Humacao Campus, formed a large percentage of the participants.

2DCOS took place from February 20-22 at the hotel Rincón of the Seas.

Video

Doctor Isao Noda was the symposium’s keynote speaker.		Doctor Belinda Pastrana, from the UPRM Chemistry Department, organized the activity.

Students of the UPRM chapter of SAQ were part of the 2DCOS organizing committee.

Photographs by Carlos Díaz / UPRM Press