Aug 25, 2024

How much cooking differs from organic synthesis?

Well, I guess the answers is not much. At least that was something that I was trying to convince to our 3rd year pharmacy students couple of weeks ago, since they need to choose their major subjects, and drug synthesis is one the options. Of course, it does not fit for everyone, but that was the point, if you like cooking and baking, perhaps there are some elements of chemist in you! 😁 For example, I never enjoy the chemistry in the high school, but from my early childhood, I have always loved baking and later on, also cooking. And when I found my passion in medicinal chemistry, I realized that the connection between the kitchen and the organic laboratory is pretty obvious, the molecular gastronomy obeys the same principals of chemistry as all the organic chemistry labs do! 

And I know I have a teeny-tiny problem to get carried away in the kitchen. Yesterday, my neighbour just mentioned that he has a problem of apples, and if I wanted, just come to pick them up. 4 h later, I have baked 1 pie and made apple jam... and the same continued today... 🙈  


Aug 19, 2024

EFMC-ISMC and EFMC-YMCS 2024 in Rome

European Federation for Medicinal chemistry and Chemical biology (EFMC) is one of the leading medicinal chemistry societies in the world and their yearly international symposium is one of the greatest events in the area gathering scientist with different backgrounds from all over the world. This year the 28th symposium will be held in Rome, Italy from September 1st to 5th (link). Our research group will be present and we have 3 posters there. It's better that we don't announce the poster numbers yet, as there has been changes in numbers... 😀 but if you are going to participate, please find us!

In addition, after the main event, EFMC Young Scientists Network (YSN) organizes also the 11th satellite Young Medicinal Chemists' Symposium (YMCS) 5-6th of September, 2024 (link). Also in this latter event, we will be shown, since Janne is going to show his results as a representative of Finnish Pharmaceutical Society. 

 
 

Aug 11, 2024

Back to the School

Since we work in the School of Pharmacy, it is fair to say that after the vacation we are coming back to the school. 😎 Even though it is good not to think of the work, like science, during your holidays, sometimes it is good also to have a look from another angle. Kids love science, and therefore I also visited science park this summer. In Finland we have only one great science park, Heureka (link) in Helsinki. If you haven't visited it yet, I can highly recommend! Even though you are not a kid, there is a lot of great stuff for everyone and hours are easily spent. For me it was relaxing, like the whole summer vacation. I hope you had a great vacation too and are full of enthusiasm to bring new ideas and advance the science and progress!