NWO CHAINS 2025: The Chemistry of Bonding

With this year’s theme, The Chemistry of Bonding, NWO emphasised the power of strong, resilient connections to help the community grow and adapt. As NWO celebrates 75 years of supporting science, NWO CHAINS once again was a commitment to fostering the relationships and shared vision that will carry Dutch chemistry confidently into the future.

Drunken worms

One of the highlights of the programme was the evening lecture on Tuesday by Sander Woutersen. He introduced participants to his research on active polymer worms through an interactive quiz that quickly turned the plenary room into a big pub quiz with 600 participants. The combination of humour & scientific facts, made the session both entertaining and informative. To top it off, actual (stuffed) worms made a cameo on stage to hand out the prize to the quiz winner. A great way to end the first day.

Bonding over puzzles and words

On the plaza, surrounded by posters, exhibitors, demos, and the buzz of constant activity, the Chemistry of Bonding table quickly became a gathering spot. This year’s theme highlighted not only the bonds formed in chemical research, but especially the human connections behind the science. At the table, participants could dive into bonding‑themed games, including a custom puzzle, a Scrabble wall, and plus‑plus building materials. The Scrabble wall was completely filled by the end of each day, while the puzzle proved to be challenging: despite the enthusiasm of many dedicated puzzlers, it remained unfinished. However, the puzzle did connect people during the conference.[AM1]  Safe to say: bonds were made.

Posters

Amid a bustling programme [AM1] filled with parallel presentations, demos, keynotes, and exhibitors, the poster sessions formed one of the key meeting points for in‑depth scientific exchanges.

Sebastiaan van Nuffel, chair of the poster jury at NWO CHAINS, reflected on the unique role posters play in the conference. While NWO CHAINS is broad compared to specialized events, he values the opportunity to engage with young scientists—often presenting for the first time—and sees posters as an important first step toward peer review. “I’m particularly impressed by the level of work presented here; it shows how strong chemistry is in the Netherlands,” he said. One highlight for him was discovering that an outstanding poster he reviewed was not a PhD project, as he assumed, but a master’s thesis—a testament to the exceptional talent emerging in the field.

Olga Duda, a final-year PhD student and poster prize winner at NWO CHAINS, praised the conference for showcasing the breadth of chemistry research across the Netherlands. While she enjoys giving talks, Duda values the interactivity of poster sessions, which allow for more personal and engaging conversations. “I feel I can reach people a bit more than by just mentioning what I do—I can genuinely give them a personal overview of my work, which I find rewarding,” she explained. For Duda, this format is not only comfortable but also an efficient way to gain fresh insights and valuable feedback.

Parallel sessions

With numerous talks running in parallel, attendees could explore a wide range of topics—from fundamental chemistry to interdisciplinary innovations.

Yanna Kraakman, a mathematician working on chemical process modeling, brought an interdisciplinary perspective to NWO CHAINS with her parallel presentation. While her research is rooted in mathematics, she values the conference’s broad scope for fostering cross-disciplinary learning. “I think you can really broaden your own knowledge here and gain new insights from other areas,” she said, reflecting on the diversity of sessions. A morning talk organized by her supervisor provided relevant inspiration, and although poster interactions were limite[AM1] d, she noted interesting connections to her work. For Kraakman, NWO CHAINS is an opportunity to exchange ideas across fields, from chemistry to biology to computational science, making it an inspiring platform for collaboration.

Demonstrations at the plaza

Alongside the presentations and posters, the Plaza hosted a dynamic series of demos where researchers showcased hands‑on innovations and emerging technologies.

Carolin, who returned to NWO CHAINS for the second year, used the Plaza to showcase her team’s innovative DOSY cell technology. What began as a university project is now evolving into a spin-out, supported by NWO grants and aimed at making the prototype commercially available. “Sometimes it iss valuable to bring the lab to the people and show them directly what we are working on and what possibilities our DOSY cell has to impact other people’s research,” she explained. The live demo sparked curiosity across disciplines, with reactions ranging from “this could work for our samples” to sheer fascination from those encountering the technique for the first time.

Keynote speakers

Between the packed parallel sessions, posters, and demos, the keynotes offered shared moments for the entire community to reconnect around big ideas.

Dörte Rother, keynote speaker at NWO CHAINS, praised the conference for its diversity and interdisciplinary approach. As a biocatalysis expert, she values the opportunity to explore other areas of chemistry, from electrochemistry to heterogeneous catalysis. “I think it is great that NWO CHAINS brings everything together—you can look beyond your own field and get a glimpse into surrounding disciplines,” she said. Rother also highlighted the networking opportunities, meeting new colleagues and even sparking ideas for cross-border collaborations. For her, the interactions with students were particularly rewarding, as they asked questions about integrating biocatalysis into synthesis. Looking ahead, she emphasized that sustainable processes will require combining the best of all worlds: chemical catalysts, biocatalysts, and microorganisms.

Exhibitors

There were in total … exhibitors at NWO CHAINS. For Salm & Kipp, attending NWO CHAINS was all about connection rather than promotion. Instead of focusing on a single product, they aim to exchange knowledge and showcase their ability to deliver tailored solutions, positioning themselves as advisors rather than traditional sellers. “Our goal is to have conversations, share knowledge, and show that we provide customized solutions—not just sell standard products,” they emphasized. The conference offered valuable opportunities for inspiring discussions—some even sparking technical support or fresh insights. Their biggest challenge? Finding the right balance between lectures, networking, and company exchanges to make the most of the event.

Check out all photos