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Department of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry

Established in 2014 by merging the Departments of Physical Chemistry,
Inorganic Chemistry, and General Chemistry.

  • 2025 – a double degree agreement for the second-cycle study programme Chemical Engineering was signed with the University of Catania (Italy).
  • 2024 – Prof. Ingrida Ancutienė was awarded the Theodor Grotthuss Medal for her contributions to the field of chemistry and for nurturing Lithuanian chemists.
  • 2023 – a double degree agreement for the first-cycle study programme Chemical Technology and Engineering was signed with the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (Spain).
  • 2020 – Prof. Algirdas Šulčius, Assoc. Prof. Egidijus Griškonis, Assoc. Prof. Edita Paluckienė, Lecturer Nerita Žmuidzinavičienė, Assoc. Prof. Kristina Kantminienė, Assoc. Prof. Rasa Alaburdaitė, and Prof. Virgilijus Valeika won the competition “Encouragement of Teachers and Teaching Teams for Innovations and Quality in Studies.”
  • 2019 – Lecturer Andrius Jaskūnas became the Head of the Study Programme Committee for Chemical Engineering.
  • 2018 and 2023 – Prof. Eugenijus Valatka was elected Rector of Kaunas University of Technology.
  • 2014 – the Department of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry was established by merging the Departments of Physical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, and General Chemistry. Prof. Ingrida Ancutienė became the Head of the Department (2015–2024). Since 2024, the Head of the Department has been Assoc. Prof. Kristina Kantminienė.
  • 2012 – Prof. Algirdas Šulčius became Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the scientific journal Cheminė technologija (Chemical Technology).
  • 2011 – Prof. Eugenijus Valatka was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Chemical Technology.
  • 2006 – Assoc. Prof. Eugenijus Valatka was appointed Vice-Dean for Studies at the Faculty of Chemical Technology.
  • 2004 – V. Janickis, together with Prof. A. Kareiva (Vilnius University), was awarded the Lithuanian Science Prize for the series of works “New Inorganic Compounds and Composite Materials: Formation, Structure, Chemical, Physical and Applied Properties Research, 1973–2003.”
  • 2003 – for the work “New Inorganic Compounds and Composite Materials: Formation, Structural and Applied Properties Research, 1988–2003,” the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences awarded the Juozas Matulis Prize (Chemistry) to V. Janickis, I. Ancutienė, and R. Ivanauskas.
  • 2002 – the title of Honorary Doctor of Kaunas University of Technology was awarded to Dr. Bronislovas Lubys, President of the Achema Group concern and former lecturer of the Department of Physical Chemistry.
  • 1997–2001 – Prof. A. M. Sviklas served as Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Chemical Technology.
  • 1995–2005 – Prof. Alfredas Martynas Sviklas served as Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the scientific journal Cheminė technologija (Chemical Technology) (he was one of the journal’s founders), and from 2006 to 2012 he was Editor-in-Chief.
  • 1977 – V. Janickis, together with Prof. O. Foss (Norway), discovered a new allotropic modification of selenium – γ-monoclinic selenium.
  • 1972 – B. Stulpinas became the first chemist in Lithuania to be awarded the degree of Doctor of Technical Sciences (now Habilitated Doctor) for his habilitation thesis.
  • 1968 – for their work in the fields of sulfur, selenium, and manganese chemistry and electrochemistry, the department’s employees J. Valančiūnas, J. Janickis, V. Zelionkaitė, E. Pacauskas, and B. Stulpinas were awarded the Lithuanian Republican Prize.
  • 1964 – Vaclava Zelionkaitė, after defending her dissertation in chemistry, became the first woman in Lithuania to receive the degree of Doctor of Chemical Sciences (now Habilitated Doctor).
  • 1964 – the Department of Inorganic Chemistry of the Faculty of Chemical Technology at Kaunas Polytechnic Institute was divided into the Departments of General Chemistry and Inorganic Chemistry. This year marks the establishment of the Department of General Chemistry. The Heads of the Department were Prof. Balys Stulpinas (1964–1982), Assoc. Prof. Ona Petroševičiūtė (1982–1988), Assoc. Prof. Stanislovas Grevys (1988–1997), Assoc. Prof. Algirdas Šulčius (1997–2006), Assoc. Prof. Stanislovas Grevys (2007–2012), and Prof. Algirdas Šulčius (2012–2014). The department employed 9–22 lecturers.
  • 1959 – the Department of Physical Chemistry was assigned the speciality of inorganic materials technology. The department produced its first graduates in inorganic engineering in 1961.
  • 1950–1970 – the Department of Physical Chemistry was renamed the Department of Physical and Colloid Chemistry. Since 1970, the original name – Department of Physical Chemistry – was restored.
  • 1940 – during the reorganization of Vytautas Magnus University, the restructured Kaunas University maintained the Faculty of Technology, which included the Department of General Chemistry within the Chemical Technology Division. In the same year, it was divided into three separate departments: Physical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry. Heads of the Department of Physical Chemistry: Acad. Prof. Jonas Janickis (1940–1941), Prof. P. Jucaitis (1941–1944), Acad. Prof. Jonas Janickis (1944–1976), Prof. Evaldas Pacauskas (1976–1988), Assoc. Prof. Donatas Mickevičius (1988–1991), Assoc. Prof. Andrius Ancuta (1991–2000), Acting Prof. A. M. Sviklas (2000–2001), Prof. Saulius Kitrys (2001–2012), Assoc. Prof. Rasa Šlinkšienė (2012–2014). The department employed between 3 and 18 lecturers. The long-serving Head of the Department, distinguished Lithuanian physical chemist Acad. Prof. Jonas Janickis, had a major influence on the development of research directions. Heads of the Department of Inorganic Chemistry: Assoc. Prof. Leonarda Bernatonienė (1964–1969), Prof. Vaclava Zelionkaitė (1969–1985), Prof. Vitalijus Janickis (1985–1992), Assoc. Prof. Gintautas Paulauskas (1992–1993), Assoc. Prof. Elvyra Rinkevičienė (1993–1997), Prof. Vitalijus Janickis (1997–2006), Assoc. Prof. Nijolė Kreivėnienė (2006–2011), Prof. Ingrida Ancutienė (2011–2014). The department employed between 4 and 28 lecturers.
  • 1926 – the Department of Physical Chemistry was established at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Division of Physics and Chemistry, of the University of Lithuania. Its founder and first head, Prof. Vincas Čepinskis, was also one of the founders of the University of Lithuania. The Heads of the Department were Prof. V. Čepinskis (1926–1936) and Assoc. Prof. Juozas Matulis (1936–1940).
  • 1922 – the Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry was established at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Division of Physics and Chemistry, of the University of Lithuania. The Heads of the Department were Assoc. Prof. Filypas Butkevičius (1922–1934), Prof. Petras Juodakis (1934–1939), and Assoc. Prof. Alfonsas Zubrys (1939–1940). The department’s lecturers taught General and Inorganic Chemistry as well as Analytical Chemistry.

Contacts

Kristina Kantminienė

Assoc. Dr. Kristina Kantminienė

Head of Department

Radvilėnų Ave. 19, Kaunas

Email: 
kristina.kantminiene@ktu.lt

Doctoral Students