On Saturday October 19, 2024, following the COPCA 2024 meeting we have gathered at the University of Malta for a milestone meeting marking the official kick-off of the MOLESs project. The meeting brought together an international group of experts in molecular spectroscopy and computational chemistry:
- Nigel Mason (Chair) – University of Kent
- Felipe Fantuzzi – University of Kent
- Jelena Maljković – University of Belgrade – Institute of Physics
- Heidy Quitian-Lara – Max-Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
- Bhalamurugan Sivaraman – Physical Research Laboratory, A Unit of Department of Space, Government of India.
- Ragav Ramachandran – Physical Research Laboratory, A Unit of Department of Space, Government of India.
- Matija Zlatar – University of Belgrade – Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy
- Nykola Jones (Online) – Aarhus University
The meeting was an in-depth discussion of the legacy and ongoing relevance of Melvin Robin’s series of monographs published in the 1974, 1975 and 1985 entitled: ‘Higher Excited States of Polyatomic Molecules.’ It came apparent that , despite their historical impact, these classic works require a modern update to incorporate new experimental techniques and computational methods.
The participants agreed on the urgent need for a comprehensive, updated resource that not only honors the foundations laid by Melvin Robin but also addresses current research requirements. It was decided to foster the project by building a dedicated team of authors from both experimental and computational disciplines. This diverse team will work together on literature reviews, data compilation, and identifying future research needs. Participants agreed on the project name – MOLESs (MOLEcular Excited State Spectroscopy) — a nod to both the subject matter and our commitment to “digging” for invaluable data. It was agreed that Belgrade will serve as the central hub for the MOLESs project. The first annual meeting will be held in Belgrade in May 2025 to review progress and plan forthcoming compilations.
