The Turkish Chemical Society led by Mehmet Mahramanlıoglu and supported by the conference organisers headed by Cem Tunçel showed splendid hospitality to the 1200 delegates from 35 countries in five continents at the 5th EuCheMS Chemistry Congress (ECC5) held at the WOW Convention Center in Istanbul from 31st August to 4th September. The congress was exceptionally well organised and we were made to feel extremely welcome in the city where Europe meets Asia and many cultures mix. We were treated to a positive feast of chemistry put together by the scientific committee under Helena Grennberg (see right). It started with the remarkable revelation...