Preface to the special issue on the <scp>XV ELAFOT</scp>/1st Lat‐<scp>ASP</scp> conference

This Special Issue of Photochemistry and Photobiology celebrates the XV Encuentros Latinoamericanos de Fotoquímica y Fotobiología (ELAFOT), held jointly with the inaugural meeting of the Latin American branch of the American Society for Photobiology (LatASP). The joint conference took place from October 23 to 26, 2023, in the picturesque coastal town of Maresias, São Sebastião, São Paulo, Brazil. This event marked a significant milestone for the photochemical and photobiological communities in Latin America and beyond, bringing together 167 scientists from 13 countries across the Americas and Europe. The Organizing Committee was integrated by Mauricio S. Baptista (Chairman, IQUSP), Roberto Santana (FCFRP-USP), Erick Bastos (IQUSP), Rosangela Itri (IFUSP), Helena Junqueira (IQUSP), Tsai Wen (IQUSP), and Cynthia Bando (Event Planning and Meeting Management). The Local Scientific Committee (Brazil) was integrated by Bernardo Iglesias (UFSM), Carla Cristina Schmitt Cavalheiro (IQSC-USP), Cristina Kurachi (IFSC-USP), Daniel Rodrigues Cardoso (IQSC-USP), Fabiano Rodembusch (UFRGS), Martha Simões Ribeiro (IPEN), Antônio Pinheiro (UFBA), Paolo Di Mascio (USP), and Carlos Menck (USP). The International Scientific Committee was integrated by Adriana Casas (UBA, Argentina), Alec Greer (CUNY, USA), Alexis Aspee (USACH, Chile), Andrés Thomas (UNLP, Argentina), Carolina Lorente (UNLP, Argentina), Claudio Borsarelli (UNSE, Argentina), Denis Alberto Fuentealba (UC, Chile), Edgardo Durantini (UNRC, Argentina), Jean Cadet (Université de Sherbrooke, Canada, France), Jose Robinson (U. Panamá, Panamá), Juan Camilo Mejía (UdeA, Colombia), Nancy Pizarro (UNAB, Chile), Silvia Braslavsky (MaxPlanck, Germany), and Susana Carolina Nuñez Montoya (UNC, Argentina). The aim of the joint ELAFOT/LatASP conference was to foster scientific collaboration, promote the dissemination of cutting-edge research, and provide a space for strategic discussions on public policies to strengthen photoscience in the region. With a strong emphasis on interactivity and active participation, the conference successfully created an immersive environment that encouraged discussion, questioning, and mentoring, particularly of early-career scientists. The scientific program was designed to reflect the rich and diverse nature of the contemporary photosciences. Over 4 days, attendees participated in a dynamic schedule of plenary lectures, keynote addresses, thematic symposia, oral presentations, and an engaging poster session. The opening plenary, delivered by Professor Gang Zheng (University of Toronto, Canada), highlighted innovations in activable photosensitizers and nanomedicine at the intersection of photochemistry and therapeutic science. Additional plenary lectures by Professors Frank Quina and Silvia Braslavsky, two of the most respected figures in the field of Latin American photochemistry and photobiology, underscored the region's scientific leadership. Eight keynote lectures featured renowned scientists addressing topics such as photoprotection in plants, photophysical scaffolds, photodynamic inactivation, and singlet oxygen chemistry. Twelve thematic symposia, each chaired by field leaders, explored areas including photodynamic therapy, quantum biology, DNA photodamage, and photooxidative mechanisms. These sessions were met with full attendance and vigorous discussion, highlighting the great level of engagement across the community. A highlight of the conference was the poster session, which showcased 82 abstracts spanning photochemistry, photobiology, and photophysics. This session provided a critical platform for early-stage researchers to present their work and receive constructive feedback from scientists. To celebrate excellence and promote emerging talent, awards were presented to outstanding contributions in each field: the Frank Quina Award for Photophysics, the Eduardo Lissi Award for Photochemistry, and the Silvia Braslavsky Award for Photobiology, generously supported by the Royal Society of Chemistry. This Special Issue brings together a selection of the innovative and impactful contributions presented at the conference,1-23 reflecting not only the scientific rigor of the event but also the collaborative spirit that defines the ELAFOT and LatASP communities. We hope these articles will inspire further research and foster continued dialogue within and beyond the region. Looking ahead, we are pleased to announce that the next ELAFOT/Lat-ASP meeting will be held in Panama in 2025. We look forward to another exceptional gathering that will build upon the strong foundation laid in Maresias, expanding the global network of scientists dedicated to advancing photochemistry, photobiology, and their many applications (Figure 1). Guest Editors Special Issue on ELAFOT/LatASP 2023 Photochemistry and Photobiology

Fetched live from OpenAlex and de-inverted. Abstracts are not stored in this database: the inverted indexes are 8.6 GB of the frame’s 9.3 GB of text, and the host has 13 GB free.