July 6−10, 2026
The 6th International Symposium
"Molecular photonics"
dedicated to academician Alexander N. Terenin
"Molecular photonics"
dedicated to academician Alexander N. Terenin
Symposium topics:
• Optical spectroscopy and photochemical processes in molecular and supramolecular systems
• Electron and energy transfer in molecular systems
• Gas-phase photoprocesses
• Photochemical processes in heterogeneous systems and heterogeneous photocatalysis
• Photonics of model biological systems and biological molecules
• Photonics of molecular nano-systems
• Photochromism of organic compounds
• Applied molecular photonics
• Optical spectroscopy and photochemical processes in molecular and supramolecular systems
• Electron and energy transfer in molecular systems
• Gas-phase photoprocesses
• Photochemical processes in heterogeneous systems and heterogeneous photocatalysis
• Photonics of model biological systems and biological molecules
• Photonics of molecular nano-systems
• Photochromism of organic compounds
• Applied molecular photonics
About Symposium
Alexander N. Terenin
- Academician
Alexander Nikolayevich Terenin
(1896−1967)
Alexander Terenin was born on May 6, 1896 in Kaluga, a small city not far from Moscow. Alexander’s parents were educated people. Nikolay Vasiljevich Terenin, Alexander’s father, after studying the commercial business
in England started the successful activity in commerce and became the merchant of the 1st guild. Maria Akimovna Maslennikova, Alexander’s mother, was the noblewoman from the family of petty landowners owning a small manor near Petersburg. She knew German and French, was interested in philosophy. There were six children in the family — three sons and three daughters. They were growing in the atmosphere of European culture since the early childhood. Alexander knew the main European languages, played piano excellently.
In 1907 Alexander entered the non-classical secondary school and graduated from it in 1914 successfully. At this time the future brilliant researcher carried out his first experiments in small home chemical laboratory.
In 1915 A. Terenin was mobilised to army, graduated from the chemical-technical courses and was ordered to the laboratory of the Military Department. There he carried out his first spectroscopic research of trophy luminous materials. Being on military service A. Terenin became the listener of Physical-Mathematical Faculty of Petrograd University (1915) and became the student of physical branch of this Faculty after demobilisation from the army in 1918.
The A. Terenin’s degree work carried out at the University was named "Normal orbit of electron in the atom of mercury" (1921). The main results of this work were published in "Nature" journal. The whole further scientific life of A. Terenin was closely connected with the University and with the State Optical Institute.
From 1920 till 1925 A. Terenin executed an extensive spectral research of metal atoms luminiscence. Later he began systematic study of photoprocesses in simple molecules and in vapours of salts. In 1927 during his business trip to Germany and Holland A. Terenin with P. Pringshame investigated spectra of fluorescence of mercury molecules. The results of these researches were generalized in the "Photochemistry of the vapours of salts" monograph (1934).
His scientific achievements were generally recognized and A. Terenin was elected the Corresponding Member of the Academy of Sciences of USSR in 1932. Later he was elected the full Member of the Academy of Sciences in 1939.
During the World War II A. Terenin with collaborators took part in the development of light-stable masking covers used for defence purposes. Simultaneously he began working on generalisation of results on photophysics and photochemistry of complex organic molecules. In 1943 A. Terenin published the hypothesis about the triplet nature of the metastable states responsible for phosphorescence of aromatic molecules.
The scope of his scientific interests was very broad, it extended from atoms to complex biological systems. His activity resulted in a number of important scientific discoveries and in the development of new methods, which now became conventional. It is sufficient to mention the detection of the spectral sensitization of the internal photoeffect in semiconductors (1948), the discovery of the triplet-triplet energy transfer (1952) and pioneer studies in the field of molecular photoionization and UV photoelectron spectroscopy (1961). His works on photophysics and photochemistry of dyes, including chlorophyll and its analogs, on the photostimulated processes in the heterogeneous systems, as well as on the two-quanta photoprocesses are widely known. His first paper, where IR spectroscopy was applied to the study of adsorption for the first time, appeared already in 1940, much earlier than the similar works in other laboratories.
A.N.Terenin took the active part in numerous international conferences and symposia. In 1958 A.N.Terenin was elected the Honor Member of the English Chemical Society and the French Physico-Chemical Society. He was awarded the Vavilov Gold Medal in Physics (USSR, 1954), the Ciamician Gold Medal (Italy, 1959) and the Finzen Gold Medal (England, 1964).
For many years A. Terenin was the scientific director of the S.I. Vavilov State Optical Institute, the head of the Spectroscopy Department of this Institute and the head of the Department of Biomolecular and Photonic Physics in Leningrad State Iniversity.
A.Terenin was gone on January 18, 1967 after strong heart attack. He was buried on Bogoslovskoe cemetery in Leningrad.
Short biography
1918. Student of the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics of Petrograd University.
1919. GOI laboratory assistant, thesis "The normal orbit of an electron in a mercury atom."
1925. The beginning of photochemical research: photodissociation of NaJ molecules was discovered, accompanied by radiation from sodium atoms.
1927−1932. Investigation of the photodissociation of metal halides into atoms, ions and radicals.
1932. Became a professor at the Leningrad State University Faculty of Physics. Elected a corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Sciences.
1935. Organization of the Laboratory of Optics of surface phenomena at NIFI LSU.
1939. Elected a full member of the USSR Academy of Sciences.
1945. The first works on the study of photosynthesis. Organization of a laboratory at the A.N.Bach Institute of Biochemistry. Scientific supervisor (Deputy Director) of the GOI.
1947. Awarded the First degree State Prize.
1952. A new phenomenon was discovered — sensitized phosphorescence of organic compounds (together with V.L.Ermolaev).
1956. Representative from the USSR in the Commission on the Structure and Spectroscopy of Molecules of the International Association of General and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC).
1957. The Laboratory of Optics of Surface Phenomena was transformed into the Laboratory of Photocatalysis at NIFI LSU.
1959. Awarded of the medal named after Chamichano.
1964. Head of the Department of Biomolecular and Photonic Physics. Awarding of the Finsen Gold medal. Honorary member of the French Chemical Society and the English Chemical Society.
1966. Awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor.
in England started the successful activity in commerce and became the merchant of the 1st guild. Maria Akimovna Maslennikova, Alexander’s mother, was the noblewoman from the family of petty landowners owning a small manor near Petersburg. She knew German and French, was interested in philosophy. There were six children in the family — three sons and three daughters. They were growing in the atmosphere of European culture since the early childhood. Alexander knew the main European languages, played piano excellently.
In 1907 Alexander entered the non-classical secondary school and graduated from it in 1914 successfully. At this time the future brilliant researcher carried out his first experiments in small home chemical laboratory.
In 1915 A. Terenin was mobilised to army, graduated from the chemical-technical courses and was ordered to the laboratory of the Military Department. There he carried out his first spectroscopic research of trophy luminous materials. Being on military service A. Terenin became the listener of Physical-Mathematical Faculty of Petrograd University (1915) and became the student of physical branch of this Faculty after demobilisation from the army in 1918.
The A. Terenin’s degree work carried out at the University was named "Normal orbit of electron in the atom of mercury" (1921). The main results of this work were published in "Nature" journal. The whole further scientific life of A. Terenin was closely connected with the University and with the State Optical Institute.
From 1920 till 1925 A. Terenin executed an extensive spectral research of metal atoms luminiscence. Later he began systematic study of photoprocesses in simple molecules and in vapours of salts. In 1927 during his business trip to Germany and Holland A. Terenin with P. Pringshame investigated spectra of fluorescence of mercury molecules. The results of these researches were generalized in the "Photochemistry of the vapours of salts" monograph (1934).
His scientific achievements were generally recognized and A. Terenin was elected the Corresponding Member of the Academy of Sciences of USSR in 1932. Later he was elected the full Member of the Academy of Sciences in 1939.
During the World War II A. Terenin with collaborators took part in the development of light-stable masking covers used for defence purposes. Simultaneously he began working on generalisation of results on photophysics and photochemistry of complex organic molecules. In 1943 A. Terenin published the hypothesis about the triplet nature of the metastable states responsible for phosphorescence of aromatic molecules.
The scope of his scientific interests was very broad, it extended from atoms to complex biological systems. His activity resulted in a number of important scientific discoveries and in the development of new methods, which now became conventional. It is sufficient to mention the detection of the spectral sensitization of the internal photoeffect in semiconductors (1948), the discovery of the triplet-triplet energy transfer (1952) and pioneer studies in the field of molecular photoionization and UV photoelectron spectroscopy (1961). His works on photophysics and photochemistry of dyes, including chlorophyll and its analogs, on the photostimulated processes in the heterogeneous systems, as well as on the two-quanta photoprocesses are widely known. His first paper, where IR spectroscopy was applied to the study of adsorption for the first time, appeared already in 1940, much earlier than the similar works in other laboratories.
A.N.Terenin took the active part in numerous international conferences and symposia. In 1958 A.N.Terenin was elected the Honor Member of the English Chemical Society and the French Physico-Chemical Society. He was awarded the Vavilov Gold Medal in Physics (USSR, 1954), the Ciamician Gold Medal (Italy, 1959) and the Finzen Gold Medal (England, 1964).
For many years A. Terenin was the scientific director of the S.I. Vavilov State Optical Institute, the head of the Spectroscopy Department of this Institute and the head of the Department of Biomolecular and Photonic Physics in Leningrad State Iniversity.
A.Terenin was gone on January 18, 1967 after strong heart attack. He was buried on Bogoslovskoe cemetery in Leningrad.
Short biography
1918. Student of the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics of Petrograd University.
1919. GOI laboratory assistant, thesis "The normal orbit of an electron in a mercury atom."
1925. The beginning of photochemical research: photodissociation of NaJ molecules was discovered, accompanied by radiation from sodium atoms.
1927−1932. Investigation of the photodissociation of metal halides into atoms, ions and radicals.
1932. Became a professor at the Leningrad State University Faculty of Physics. Elected a corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Sciences.
1935. Organization of the Laboratory of Optics of surface phenomena at NIFI LSU.
1939. Elected a full member of the USSR Academy of Sciences.
1945. The first works on the study of photosynthesis. Organization of a laboratory at the A.N.Bach Institute of Biochemistry. Scientific supervisor (Deputy Director) of the GOI.
1947. Awarded the First degree State Prize.
1952. A new phenomenon was discovered — sensitized phosphorescence of organic compounds (together with V.L.Ermolaev).
1956. Representative from the USSR in the Commission on the Structure and Spectroscopy of Molecules of the International Association of General and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC).
1957. The Laboratory of Optics of Surface Phenomena was transformed into the Laboratory of Photocatalysis at NIFI LSU.
1959. Awarded of the medal named after Chamichano.
1964. Head of the Department of Biomolecular and Photonic Physics. Awarding of the Finsen Gold medal. Honorary member of the French Chemical Society and the English Chemical Society.
1966. Awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor.
History of Symposium
1996. International Symposium dedicated to the 100th birthday of A.N. Terenin with the participation of Lord Porter and N. Sheppard (Great Britain) and other of his contemporaries. The meetings were held in the building of the Institute of Chemistry, where Terenin’s apartment was before.
2006. 1st International Symposium "Molecular Photonics" June 28−July 2, aboard a cruise ship with a visit to the famous historical sites of the north of Russia: Valaam Island, Kizhi, Mandrogi. Numerous guests from the USA, France, Japan, Italy, Spain, and other countries participated.
2009. The 2nd International Symposium "Molecular Photonics" was held within the framework of the International Conference "Organic Nanophotonics" (ICON-RUSSIA 2009) under the chairmanship of Academician M.V. Alfimov on June 21−28, 2009 in the historical center of St. Petersburg in the Academy of Sciences building with the participation of a great number of guests from abroad.
2012. The 3rd International Symposium "Molecular Photonics" on June 24−29, 2012 in the kurortny district of St. Petersburg, Repino.
2016. The 4th International Symposium "Molecular Photonics" was held on June 21−24 in Peterhof with the participation of guests from Spain (K.Otero Arean), France (P.Picha), Japan (N.Katada). as well as Belarus, Georgia and Ukraine.
2021. The 5th International Symposium "Molecular Photonics" was held online due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
2026, July 6−10. 6th International Symposium "Molecular Photonics".
2006. 1st International Symposium "Molecular Photonics" June 28−July 2, aboard a cruise ship with a visit to the famous historical sites of the north of Russia: Valaam Island, Kizhi, Mandrogi. Numerous guests from the USA, France, Japan, Italy, Spain, and other countries participated.
2009. The 2nd International Symposium "Molecular Photonics" was held within the framework of the International Conference "Organic Nanophotonics" (ICON-RUSSIA 2009) under the chairmanship of Academician M.V. Alfimov on June 21−28, 2009 in the historical center of St. Petersburg in the Academy of Sciences building with the participation of a great number of guests from abroad.
2012. The 3rd International Symposium "Molecular Photonics" on June 24−29, 2012 in the kurortny district of St. Petersburg, Repino.
2016. The 4th International Symposium "Molecular Photonics" was held on June 21−24 in Peterhof with the participation of guests from Spain (K.Otero Arean), France (P.Picha), Japan (N.Katada). as well as Belarus, Georgia and Ukraine.
2021. The 5th International Symposium "Molecular Photonics" was held online due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
2026, July 6−10. 6th International Symposium "Molecular Photonics".
Program Committee
Tsyganenko A.A., professor, St. Petersburg State University, Chairman
Chizhov Yu.V., professor, St. Petersburg State University, Deputy Chairman
Bahnemann, D. professor. St. Petersburg State University, Director of the International Russian-Chinese Center
Bodunov E. N. professor. St. Petersburg State Transport University
Caue R., Senior Researcher, Brazil
Emelin A.V., professor, St. Petersburg State University
Ibraev N. H. professor. Kazakhstan
Jia Hong Pan, professor., China
Kapitonov Yu.V., Associate Professor, St. Petersburg State University
Krasnovsky A.A., professor. Institute of Biochemistry of Russian Academy of Sciences.
Mayer, G.V., professor of TSU.
Maslov V.G., professor. ITMO
Pichat P., professor, France
Ryabchuk V.K. professor, St. Petersburg State University
Songyuan Dai, professor, China
Stoumpos C., professor, Greece
Shtarev D.S., professor. St. Petersburg State University
de Toledo A.O.P. professor. Brazil
Xintong Zhang, professor, China
Chizhov Yu.V., professor, St. Petersburg State University, Deputy Chairman
Bahnemann, D. professor. St. Petersburg State University, Director of the International Russian-Chinese Center
Bodunov E. N. professor. St. Petersburg State Transport University
Caue R., Senior Researcher, Brazil
Emelin A.V., professor, St. Petersburg State University
Ibraev N. H. professor. Kazakhstan
Jia Hong Pan, professor., China
Kapitonov Yu.V., Associate Professor, St. Petersburg State University
Krasnovsky A.A., professor. Institute of Biochemistry of Russian Academy of Sciences.
Mayer, G.V., professor of TSU.
Maslov V.G., professor. ITMO
Pichat P., professor, France
Ryabchuk V.K. professor, St. Petersburg State University
Songyuan Dai, professor, China
Stoumpos C., professor, Greece
Shtarev D.S., professor. St. Petersburg State University
de Toledo A.O.P. professor. Brazil
Xintong Zhang, professor, China
Registration
To be up updated.
Contacts
Program, registration, participation issues:
Alexei Tsyganenko
Technical organization issues:
Julia Ilinikh
julia.ilinikh@spbu.ru