Final Event of the CHARISMA Project: Uniting Academia and Industry with Raman Spectroscopy

1 October 2024, Brussels — The CHARISMA project marked its grand finale at the CSIC Brussels Office, under the engaging theme “Harmony time for Raman spectroscopy in academia and industry: not a FAIRy tale.” This hybrid event, welcoming both in-person and virtual participants, offered a wealth of insights into the advancements in Raman spectroscopy brought forward by the project.

The day kicked off with a warm welcome from Raquel Portela and Miguel A. Bañares of CSIC, who provided an overview of CHARISMA’s achievements and set an inspiring tone for the proceedings. Their introduction highlighted the project's influence and the potential future applications of its findings.

You can download the presentations here.

Morning Session Highlights

The morning featured a series of compelling presentations. Enrique Lozano (ELODIZ) and María Fernández (CSIC) introduced CHARISMA samples, demonstrating the extensive research conducted. Nina Jeliazkova and Dirk Lellinger presented the novel CHARISMA tools, a significant contribution to the field. Further talks from Raquel Portela and Enrique Lozano on protocols, including CWAs and VAMAS Project 6, outlined the standardisation efforts within the project.

The audience was treated to an engaging series of talks on Raman applications by speakers such as Alberto Moure from FNMT, Julián J. Reinosa from ENCAPSULAE, and Pablo Beato from TOPSOE. These presentations covered practical, real-world applications of Raman spectroscopy. Adding a theoretical perspective, Frederik Tielens spoke about modelling Raman spectroscopy for material science.

Afternoon Delve into FAIR Data

The afternoon programme centred around FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) data principles. Alex Henderson from the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB) presented on "FAIR Spectra," highlighting how FAIRification can enhance spectroscopy and spectrometry. Zdeněk Pilát from the Czech Academy of Sciences called for a data revolution with RamanBase, stressing the need for improved data handling and sharing practices.

Chris Sturm of Universität Leipzig delved into the technicalities of FAIR data management, focusing on the use of the NeXus format. This was followed by an insightful presentation by Natalie Belsey from NPL & the University of Surrey, who shared practical considerations for quantitative measurements using stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy.

The talks concluded with Anacleto Proietti (Sapienza University of Rome) and Stefan Wundrack (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt), who discussed the CHALLENGES Project, an ambitious effort in metrological technologies for semiconductor strain analysis. Finally, Julien Gorenflot from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology showcased the implementation of FAIR data across material science experiments, using NOMAD and NEXUS as key examples.

Wrapping Up and Reflections

The event closed with a lively roundtable discussion, sparking meaningful conversations among the attendees and offering a space to reflect on the day’s themes. The dialogue emphasised the continued collaboration needed between academia and industry to push the frontiers of Raman spectroscopy and implement open, standardised data practices.

Organisers expressed their sincere gratitude to the esteemed guest speakers for their contributions, which not only deepened the understanding of Raman spectroscopy advancements but also illuminated the pathway towards better data management. As the CHARISMA project reached its conclusion, the event celebrated the strides made while looking ahead to future possibilities within the spectroscopy community.

The day ended with a networking dinner, giving participants a chance to connect, discuss their experiences, and consider the future of this transformative field.