The Centre for Molecular Water Science (CMWS) has been inaugurated in Hamburg

by Chema Arcos

ICN2 is one of the founding members of this European research network dedicated to the study of water at the molecular level, with the aim of developing innovative and sustainable solutions in areas as diverse as climate, health and energy.

The Centre for Molecular Water Science (CMWS) was officially launched on 26 February with an inauguration ceremony at the DESY campus in Hamburg, Germany. The CMWS will be a major pan-European research network dedicated to the study of water at the molecular level, bringing together experts from different disciplines and scientific fields. A total of 47 institutions from 12 countries have signed the CMWS Declaration, formalising their commitment to this strategic collaboration. Among the founding members is ICN2, which was represented at the event by Dr Jordi Fraxedas (Thermal Properties of Nanoscale Materials Group).

Water is a key element for life on Earth, ecosystems and technological development. The CMWS will seek to advance the understanding of its properties at the molecular level to develop sustainable solutions in areas such as energy, human health and climate. To this end, it will be equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructures such as the future 4D X-ray microscope PETRA IV, which will allow the study of water with unprecedented resolution. Interdisciplinary collaboration between the various collaborating institutions will be another key focus of the project. During the inaugural meeting, Britta Redlich (DESY) and Eric Breynaert (KU Leuven) were elected Chair and Vice-Chair of the CMWS General Assembly.

We at ICN2 are confident that CMWS will become an excellent example of an innovative collaborative scientific network at European level.