Costa Rica Chemistry Congress: “Chemistry: a solution to global changes”

joined forces to launch the Costa Rica Chemistry Congress (CR22) in San Jos.The success of the event, marked by overwhelming participation, inspired organizers to establish it as a biennial tradition.Two years later, the second edition CR24 Congress took place in Heredia from July 23rd to July 26th, 2024, reaffirming its growing prominence.Again, it was organized by the five universities, the congress garnered robust support from the Costa Rica Chemical Society (Colegio de Qumicos de Costa Rica, CQCR), the Cmara de Industrias, and the National Laboratory of Nanotechnology (LANOTEC).The participation of ten international sponsors represented the significance of the event not just locally, but across the region.Aligned with Costa Rica's global leadership in climate action, conservation, and sustainable energy, the congress adopted the theme Chemistry: A Solution to Global Challenges, bridging scientific innovation with pressing real-world issues.CR24 Congress attracted over 200 participants from 14 countries, featuring 8 plenary lectures by renowned national and international chemists, 54 oral presentations, and 52 posters.Held together with the 3rd Costa Rican Biophysics Symposium, the event demonstrated its role as a key regional hub for cutting-edge chemistry, fostering collaboration among academia, industry, and policymakers (Figs.1234).Diversity, equity, and inclusion were central for the design of the congress.To overcome financial and geographical barriers, a parallel outreach program invited international speakers to deliver talks at multiple locations nationwide, ensuring broader access to world-class expertise.With each iteration, the Costa Rica Chemistry Congress proves its transformative potential, revitalizing the country's chemical sciences and uniting stakeholders to address global challenges through innovation.The congress showcased a vibrant interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approach, featuring ten key thematic areas that reflected the breadth of modern chemistry: i.Chemical education, ii.Chemistry in studies of emerging environmental pollutants, iii.Chemistry and technologies in information, iv.Chemistry in agricultural and food sciences, v. Chemistry in energy sources, vi.Chemistry and nanotechnology, vii.Chemistry and metrology, viii.Chemistry and interdisciplinary studies with the biological sciences, ix.Chemistry and environmental pollution and x.Chemistry and material sciences.This diverse structure highlighted the Chemistry central role in addressing global challenges-from sustainability and energy to health and technology-while fostering collaboration across scientific disciplines.