The 17th edition of the IUPAC-endorsed Summer School at Ca’ Foscari University recently held 7-11 July 2025, in Venice, brought together 75 young scientists from more than 30 countries, including a record number of scholarship recipients from developing nations. Lectures were given by 22 teachers representing leading universities and research institutions from around the world, including Christopher Brett (Portugal), Peter Licence (UK), Jonathan Forman (USA) and Philip Jessop (Canada). For the eighth consecutive time, PhosAgro has served as the general partner of the Summer School on Green Chemistry, held under the auspices of IUPAC. Representatives of international organizations including the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), the UNESCO Aid4GEA Chair on technologies and materials for environmentally friendly energy applications at Ca’ Foscari University and Luleå University of Technology in Sweden attended the event.
In 2025, teachers presented a broad range of topics to students, including routes of chemical synthesis, green catalysis, alternative solvents, renewable and environmentally friendly feedstocks, green chemistry for energy, clean chemical processes, education in green chemistry, and sustainable polymers. In addition, this edition of the Summer School also featured a unique seminar dedicated to green metrics, which was supplemented by a series of lectures on recent achievements in chemical science. Young researchers presented their projects, with the most promising ideas receiving awards.
In his welcoming address, Francesco Trotta, Chair of the IUPAC Summer School on Green Chemistry and President of the Green Science Foundation for Sustainable Development, thanked partners for their long-standing support of young scientists: “The Summer School on Green Chemistry is not just a scientific and educational project; it is an important contribution to the establishment of an international community of young scientists and to the development of their environmental consciousness, focused on the preservation of biodiversity, sustainable development and careful use of natural resources. Thanks to the dedication and enthusiasm of the participants, lecturers and partners, the Summer School on Green Chemistry has been firmly established as a foundational element of sustainable development within the scientific community. Together with our partners – PhosAgro, OPCW and IUPAC – we aim to build on past achievements and to continue the work of the outstanding scientist Professor Pietro Tundo. I am especially grateful to our reliable long-term partner PhosAgro for their trust and unwavering support, enabling young chemists from all over the world to participate in breakthrough research. Their contribution has helped turn theoretical ideas into real solutions to the environmental challenges of the future. Today, it is more important than ever for science and business to work hand in hand, and this project is a vivid example of such collaboration.”
Professor Natalia Tarasova, Director of the Institute of Chemistry and Problems of Sustainable Development at the D. I. Mendeleev Russian University of Chemical Technology and Past President of IUPAC, said: “The Summer School on Green Chemistry is of critical importance for shaping a new generation of scientists capable of strategic analysis and solving global environmental problems. What makes it unique is the creation of a platform for interaction between young and experienced scientists united by a common goal: the promotion and application of the principles of green chemistry in response to global challenges. PhosAgro’s support is of particular importance, as it makes it possible to scale up scientific developments and discoveries at the global level. I am certain that such formats of collaboration between science and business should serve as a model for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”
On behalf of PhosAgro, first Deputy CEO Siroj Loikov welcomed the participants of the Summer School on Green Chemistry: “Interest in the Summer School continues to grow year after year. The total number of participants of the Summer Schools has already reached 1,500! At PhosAgro, we understand that supporting science and education is a long-term investment in the future of our planet. That is why we have enjoyed fruitful cooperation with UNESCO and IUPAC for many years, helping young scientists from all over the world. The Summer Schools on Green Chemistry provide an excellent opportunity for talented researchers to come together, discuss their projects and scientific ideas, demonstrate their leadership and scientific potential, and tackle global environmental problems such as climate change, waste management and biodiversity conservation.”
< Originating IUPAC project 2025-001-1-041 and event
A follow-up report will be published in Chemistry International
About PhosAgro
PhosAgro (www.phosagro.ru) is a vertically integrated Russian company and one of the world’s leading producers of phosphate-based fertilizers and high-grade phosphate rock with P2O5 content of 39% or more (according to the IFA). PhosAgro’s high-performance fertilizers produce crops with advanced features.
PhosAgro Group is the largest producer of phosphate-based fertilizers in Europe (by total combined capacity for the production of DAP, MAP, NP, NPK and NPS fertilizers, according to the CRU), the largest global producer of high-grade phosphate rock with P2O5 content of 39% (according to the IFA), one of the leading producers of MAP and DAP fertilizers globally, one of the leading producers of monocalcium feed phosphates (MCP) in Europe – and the only such producer in Russia – and Russia’s only producer of nepheline concentrate.
PhosAgro’s main products, including phosphate rock, 58 grades of fertilizers, feed phosphates, ammonia and sodium tripolyphosphate, are used by customers in around 100 countries spanning all the world’s inhabited continents. The Company’s priority markets beyond Russia and the CIS are Latin America, Europe and Asia.
The Company’s shares are traded on the Moscow Exchange, and its global depositary receipts (GDRs) are listed on the London Stock Exchange (MOEX and LSE ticker: PHOR).