The Colloquium is jointly organised by ICTP and University of Trieste. It will feature a talk by chemistry Nobel laureate Omar Yaghi, followed by a panel discussion with Prof. Laura Gagliardi (U. Chicago), Prof. Hexiang Deng (Wuhan U.) and Prof. Paolo Fornasiero (U. Trieste), moderated by Prof. Ralph Gebauer (ICTP). 
 

Colloquium
Covalent Organic Frameworks, Molecular Weaving and AI for the Planet 

Omar M. Yaghi

(James and Neeltje Tretter Chair Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Bakar Institute of Digital Materials for the Planet, University of California, Berkeley)

 

Abstract:

I will first introduce covalent organic frameworks (COFs) as a versatile class of crystalline porous materials that enable precise control over composition, topology, and function. I will highlight how their modular construction provides a powerful platform for designing materials with applications in carbon capture for addressing planetary challenges. Building on this foundation, I will then introduce the concept of molecular weaving within COFs—the deliberate interlacing of organic building units to create extended, ordered structures in which topology itself becomes a design principle. Unlike conventional covalent or supramolecular assemblies, these woven COF architectures gain mechanical robustness, flexibility, and emergent behavior from entanglement at the molecular scale. Finally, I will discuss how artificial intelligence is accelerating the discovery and optimization of these enabling predictive design of structures, properties, and synthesis pathways at unprecedented speed.

 

Biographical Sketch:
Prof. Yaghi received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and was an NSF Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University. He is a University Professor and the James and Neeltje Tretter Professor of Chemistry at University of California, Berkeley. He is the Founding Director of the Berkeley Global Science Institute whose mission is to build centers of research in developing countries and provide opportunities for young scholars to discover and learn. He is also the Co-Director of the Kavli Energy NanoSciences Institute (Kavli ENSI) focusing on the basic science of energy transformation on the molecular level, the California Research Alliance by BASF (CARA) supporting joint academia-industry innovations, as well as the Bakar Institute of Digital Materials for the Planet (BIDMaP) which aims to develop cost-efficient, easily deployable versions of two classes of ultra porous materials – known as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs) – to help limit and address the impacts of climate change.
 
Yaghi is an elected member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Indian Academy of Sciences, Italian National Academy of Sciences Lincean, Islamic World Academy of Sciences, European Academy of Sciences, Argentine National Academy of Sciences, Turkish Academy of Sciences, Academy of Arab Scientists, and American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He has also been honored with many awards, including the Sacconi Medal of the Italian Chemical Society (2004), Materials Research Society Medal (2007), American Chemical Society Award in the Chemistry of Materials (2009), Royal Society of Chemistry Centenary Prize (2010), King Faisal International Prize in Science (2015), Albert Einstein World Award of Science (2017), BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Basic Sciences (2017), Wolf Prize in Chemistry (2018), Eni Award for Excellence in Energy (2018), Gregori Aminoff Prize by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (2019), August-Wilhelm-von-Hofmann-Denkmünze of the German Chemical Society (2020), Royal Society of Chemistry Sustainable Water Award (2020), VinFuture Prize (2021), Wilhelm Exner Medal (2023), Solvay Prize (2024), Tang Prize (2024), Balzan Prize (2024), IUPAC-Soong Prize for Sustainable Chemistry (2025), MRS Von Hippel Award (2025), Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2025), Crimson Distinguished Professor at Korea University (2026), RAK Shiekh Saud Award (2026), University at Albany Medal (2026), Ellis Island Medal of Honor (2026), Greatest American Immigrant by Carnegie Foundation (2026), and Forbes list of top Self-Made Americans (2026).

 

 

Panelists
 

Laura Gagliardi
(Richard and Kathy Leventhal Professor in the Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, and the James Franck Institute. Director of the Catalyst Design for Decarbonization Center)

Hexiang Deng
(Professor at the College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences and Director of International Affair Office at Wuhan University)
 

Paolo Fornasiero
(Professor of Inorganic Chemistry, Vice Rector for Research, Deputy Director at Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste)


The event will be livetreamed at:
http://ictp.it/livestream