ReseaRch Quality assuRance foR the futuRe a ... - Lund University

Panel 14 – chemistry
The Panel considers that the budget deficit and the economic consequences
that flow from it, as well as and the falling number of students are the
major problems for KILU. It will require significant and drastic changes
for the department, in order to be able to sustain it as an attractive
national and international department for education and research.
2.3 Specific Comments
2.3.1 Theoretical chemistry, and surface and colloid chemistry
This division consists of 23 staff members. The theoretical chemists at
KILU have been internationally well-known and respected for their outstanding
and seminal research on especially quantum chemical methodology,
leading to e.g. the MOLCAS-program suite. The group has also
been applying accurate quantum chemical calculations and Monte-Carlo
simulations for studying electrostatic interactions leading to a number
of important contributions where theoretical work has been combined
with experimental work on complex systems as proteins and biopolymers.
The Panel has noted that many of the scientists who contributed to the
excellent-outstanding standard have retired or are at the end of their
career.
Total work done: Quality excellent to outstanding; relevance excellent.
Present and future: Activities seem to be going somewhat down and
many of those who contributed to the high standard have retired or are at
the end of their career.
For the “poly(ethylene oxide) – water systems group, the achievements
made are very significant and influence strongly the methodology used in
this area. However, this is relatively old work and it seems that it not so
much the focus anymore. The transfer of the knowledge gained there to
new systems seems to be a bit limited.
Total work done: Quality excellent; relevance excellent.
Present and future: Activities seem to be going down significantly; a
major player is retired.
Very significant contributions in the field of “interactions in model
membrane systems” has been made regarding e.g. NMR methodology
for detection of phase-equilibria in multicomponent systems. These, are
however, from late seventies, early eighties. Nevertheless, their relevance
389