ISC 2026: Combining Tradition with Innovation

Q: ISC 2026 will be held from 6–10 September 2026. Are there any deadlines on the horizon that delegates, speakers, sponsors, and exhibitors should be aware of?

A: All the key dates can be found at the conference website, but there are several important deadlines participants should keep in mind:

• 15 May 2026: Deadline for early bird registration,

• 01 June 2026: Deadline for abstract submission for posters competing for the Best Poster Award

• 30 July 2026: Deadline for abstract submission for late-breaking posters

• 25 August 2026: Final deadline for registration.

We are still welcoming sponsors and exhibitors and would be delighted to discuss how ISC 2026 can work for you.

Q. Does ISC 2026 have a value that is distinct from that of other conferences?

A: ISC has a character that is difficult to replicate and stands out through its unique combination of tradition and innovation. As one of the longest-running and most established symposia in separation science, it carries a sense of continuity and community that newer events have not had the time to build. Many of the scientists who attend have been coming for decades, and many of the keynote and invited speakers have themselves grown up within the ISC community, as students, then postdocs, then independent researchers. That intergenerational dynamic gives the meeting a particular depth.

At the same time, ISC is genuinely broad. Unlike more specialised conferences that focus on a single technique or application area, ISC brings together the full landscape of separation science, from fundamental chromatographic theory to cutting-edge omics applications, from academia to industry. That breadth creates unexpected conversations and connections that would simply not happen elsewhere. In addition, the 2026 edition of ISC places special emphasis on supporting students and early-career scientists, fostering the next generation of experts in the field.

Q. What are you most excited about for the ISC 2026 conference? What do you want to achieve?

A: What excites us most about ISC 2026 is the opportunity to bring together a truly diverse community — from leading scientists to early-career researchers, and industry professionals — all in one place to exchange ideas and inspire each other. We are especially looking forward to seeing early-career scientists actively engage, present their work, and shape the discussions alongside established experts.

Our goal is to create a dynamic and inclusive environment where cutting-edge research meets practical application, and where young scientists feel encouraged and supported. We want participants to leave not only with new knowledge, but also with valuable connections, fresh perspectives, and a clear sense of where separation science is heading next.

Q. Is there anything new or different in the programme of ISC 2026?

A: Every edition of ISC reflects the evolving landscape of separation science, and Prague is no exception. One deliberate addition in 2026 is the dedicated short oral presentation slots in the afternoon sessions, giving early-career researchers a platform that goes beyond the poster hall. On the scientific side, the programme reflects where the field is heading: multidimensional separations, omics applications, sustainability, biopharmaceutical analysis, and the growing role of artificial intelligence and machine learning in method development and data analysis all feature prominently. The ISC Tube competition returns by popular demand, and the new ISC Quiz adds another engaging element to the week.

Q. Can you tell us more about the plenary speakers?

A: ISC 2026 in Prague features four distinguished plenary speakers whose work spans some of the most dynamic areas of separation science and beyond.

The symposium opens with three exceptional lectures. Jennifer van Eyk (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, USA) is an internationally recognized leader in clinical proteomics, with over 425 peer-reviewed publications and 26 patents, dedicated to advancing personalized biomarkers and individualized therapies. Tomáš Jungwirth (Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences & University of Nottingham, UK), a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher, brings a perspective from the frontiers of condensed matter physics, a field that may seem distant from separation science, yet his team's discovery of altermagnetism, named among the 10 Breakthroughs of the Year 2024 by Science journal, is a testament to the kind of cross-disciplinary thinking that inspires the whole scientific community. Zoltan Takats (Imperial College London & University of Regensburg) is the inventor of several ambient ionization techniques, including DESI and REIMS, which have found remarkable real-world applications in surgical settings for rapid tissue identification.

Closing the symposium will be Ana Maria García-Campaña (University of Granada, Spain), whose research focuses on advanced analytical platforms for food safety, environmental monitoring and exposomics. A member of Stanford University's World's Top 2% Scientists ranking, she will also be welcoming the community to Granada as the organizer of ISC 2028.

Q. What aspects of the conference will be of value to young scientists?

A: ISC 2026 offers early-career researchers a rich and varied programme with ample opportunity to present their work, not only through poster sessions, but also through dedicated short oral presentation slots included in the last afternoon sessions throughout the symposium.

Those wishing to deepen their knowledge before the symposium begins will find eight short courses on offer on the Saturday and Sunday preceding the conference, covering topics from modern HPLC theory and practice to HILIC, supercritical fluid chromatography, biopharmaceutical analysis, LC–MS data processing, and statistical analysis of omics data — an ideal starting point for PhD students and early-career researchers looking to broaden their expertise.

For those wishing to compete, the Pavel Jandera Young Scientist Award recognises outstanding oral presentations by scientists within 12 years of their PhD defence, with a prize of €1,000, a glass medal, and an invitation to speak at the next ISC conference. The Best Poster Award offers another avenue for recognition. Finally, the ever-popular ISC Tube competition invites participants to submit a short video showing why they love chromatography, with the top three entries selected by live audience voting.

Travel grants are available from numerous national and international societies across Europe, covering registration fees or travel costs for PhD students and early-career researchers presenting at the symposium. ISC 2026 also introduces a Career Presentation session, which will provide an overview of career opportunities in separation science across industry, highlighting the wide range of professional pathways available to graduates, followed by Career Fair, an informal event designed to help young scientists connect with potential employers and collaborators from academia and industry. Combined with the naturally collegial atmosphere of ISC, this makes Prague an ideal setting for building a professional network at one of the field's flagship events.

Q. How important are poster presentations at ISC2026? Are you doing anything new to increase visibility of posters?

A: Poster presentations are an integral part of the ISC programme and always have been. With larger number of posters expected, they represent the broadest cross-section of current research in separation science, covering new instrumentation, method development, and a wide range of application fields. For many attendees, the poster sessions are among the most valuable parts of the symposium, offering direct, informal discussion with authors in a way that lecture formats simply cannot replicate.

To recognise outstanding contributions, ISC 2026 features the Best Poster Award, evaluated by an international panel of scientific peers based on the novelty and quality of the work as well as the author's engagement during the designated poster session. Authors wishing to compete are invited to opt in during abstract submission.

Q. In today’s digital world—particularly given the many virtual events held in recent years—do you think people need to be convinced of the value of attending an in-person scientific meeting?

A: We do not think much convincing is needed, at least not in our community. The pandemic years taught us a great deal about what virtual formats can offer in terms of accessibility and reach, but they also made it very clear what they cannot replace. Science is built on conversation, the question asked after a talk, the chance encounter over coffee, the discussion that starts at a poster and continues over dinner. These moments are not incidental to a conference; they are often the most productive part of it.

ISC conference has always been a meeting place in the fullest sense of the word, where collaborations are formed, ideas are challenged, and the next generation of scientists finds its footing in the community. We are very much looking forward to welcoming everyone to Prague in September and experiencing that energy in person once again.

Q. Putting together a large conference is a lot of work. How will you judge if it was a success?

A: Organising ISC 2026 is indeed a considerable undertaking, and one that has involved a large and dedicated team over several years. But the measure of success is ultimately quite simple, it is the atmosphere in the room. If the lecture halls are full of engaged and curious scientists, if the poster sessions buzz with genuine discussion, if young researchers leave Prague with new ideas, new contacts, and a renewed enthusiasm for their work, then we will consider it a success. The numbers matter too, of course: the number of participants, the quality of the abstract submissions, the feedback we receive. But what we are really hoping for is that feeling that is hard to put into words and yet immediately recognisable to anyone who has attended a great conference, the sense that something important is happening here, and that it was worth making the trip. Prague in September is a pretty compelling backdrop. We are quietly confident.

Q. Anything else participants should be aware of?

A: Those coming to ISC 2026 for the first time, or returning after a long absence, will find a rich programme surrounding the main scientific sessions. Eight short courses are offered on the Saturday and Sunday before the symposium opens, covering topics from modern HPLC theory and practice to HILIC, supercritical fluid chromatography, biopharmaceutical analysis, LC–MS data processing, and statistical analysis of omics data. These are an excellent way to arrive in Prague already immersed in the science. On the social side, all participants are welcome at the opening Welcome Reception on Sunday evening, and the highlight of the week is undoubtedly the Gala Dinner on Wednesday evening.

And of course, Prague itself is well worth exploring. September is one of the finest months to visit the city, and we encourage participants to make the most of it, the website includes tips for restaurants, day trips, and local attractions for those with a little extra time.

Further information

Website: https://www.isc2026.org/