Felipe Fantuzzi delivered the opening keynote and Heidy Quitián-Lara presented recent astrochemical work at the IX Colombian Meeting of Theoretical and Computational Chemists
KAIROS researchers Felipe Fantuzzi and Heidy Quitián-Lara participated in the IX Colombian Meeting of Theoretical and Computational Chemists, held in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. Hosted at the Claustro de San Agustín—a landmark site in the Centro Histórico of Cartagena and home to the Universidad de Cartagena—the meeting brought together scholars across Latin America to explore advances in theory and simulation.
Felipe opened the conference with the keynote lecture “What is a Chemical Bond?”, delivered to an audience of over 120 participants. His presentation connected classical models of bonding to modern theoretical tools, including their application in astrochemical systems. The historic lecture hall, decorated with a striking portrait of Simón Bolívar, provided a powerful setting for this wide-ranging exploration of fundamental chemical theory.
Heidy also contributed a featured talk titled “Experimental and Theoretical Astrochemistry: A Synergy to Unravel Molecular Complexity in the Interstellar Medium”. Her presentation illustrated how experimental data and quantum simulations work in tandem to characterise molecular processes in space, underscoring the interdisciplinary ethos of KAIROS.
The event not only showcased Kent’s leading work in theoretical and astrochemistry but also deepened ties with the Colombian research community, fostering new opportunities for collaboration and student engagement across borders.