Mach-5 brought together the next generation of molecular machinery researchers
Around 50 researchers from around the world gathered at Liblice Castle near Prague from 6 to 9 September for the international Mach-5 conference. Organized by Jiří Kaleta of IOCB Prague, the meeting focused on early-career scientists, giving them an opportunity to present their research and connect with leading scientists in the field of molecular machinery.
The conference primarily gives the stage to researchers who have not yet obtained a tenured position, alongside postdocs and late-stage PhD students.
“We ask senior scientists in the field to nominate their younger colleagues, late-stage PhD students and postdocs and then select the speakers from among them. This gives young researchers a chance to present their work to an international audience and become part of the community,” says Jiří Kaleta.
Established scientists also take part, primarily by chairing sessions and giving keynote talks. One of this year’s guests was Ben Feringa of the University of Groningen, who shared the 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the design and synthesis of molecular machines. The conference also hosted the Sauvage–Stoddart–Feringa (SSF) Awards, with this year’s Senior Award presented to Nicolas Giuseppone of the University of Strasbourg and the Junior Award to Michael Kathan of Humboldt University of Berlin.
The 2026 Mach-5: Molecular Machinery – Making, Measuring, Modelling was the third conference in the series and the first to be held in the Czech Republic. Previous editions took place in Plön, Germany, in 2022, and Bertinoro, Italy, in 2024.
