Once confined to controlled lab environments and elite expertise, spectroscopy is fast becoming a field defined by portability, accessibility, and real-world impact. Thanks to breakthroughs in integrated optics, miniaturization, and digital convergence, today’s spectroscopic tools are making their way into consumer devices, clinical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and beyond.
Boris Mizaikoff, Chair of the upcoming Colloquium Spectroscopicum Internationale (CSI) XLIV Conference, discusses how integrated photonics and miniaturized sensing are reshaping science and society – and what attendees can expect from CSI 2025 in Ulm, Germany.
Meet the Expert
Boris Mizaikoff has served as a Chaired Professor and Director at the Institute of Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry at Ulm University since 2007. Since 2021, he has also been a member of the Executive Board at Hahn-Schickard, an applied research institute dedicated to translational science. He serves as the Chair of the Colloquium Spectroscopicum Internationale (CSI) XLIV Conference, which will take place in Ulm, Germany, from July 27–31, 2025.
How is spectroscopy changing – and why now?
Spectroscopic techniques have long been regarded as core analytical methods, routinely used in laboratories worldwide. However, the perceived delicacy of optical setups hindered their broader translation into analytical systems suitable for real-world – and often harsh – application environments.
Today, that picture is changing. Routine fabrication methods – especially microfabrication technologies originally developed for the “electronic world” – have driven significant advances in integrated optics and optical systems. These systems are now not only highly robust, but can also be batch-fabricated, resulting in dramatically reduced component and device costs.
Against this backdrop, the broad electromagnetic spectrum – from the ultraviolet to the terahertz range – offers an extraordinary window into photon–matter interactions, many of which have been exploited for centuries. Together these contemporary developments are paving the way for modern analytical spectroscopy to meet the evolving demands of a modern society.
Which spectroscopic technologies are emerging – and how might they affect everyday life?
Rather than highlighting a specific wavelength regime or narrow class of techniques, it is more appropriate to emphasize the broader rise of photonic technologies as a whole. Perhaps the most transformative development in recent years is the degree of miniaturization and integration now achievable.
This convergence of integrated photonics and integrated electronics is paving the way for truly compact, multifunctional devices – ushering in what we might call the age of “consumer photonics,” analogous to the revolution of consumer electronics. Already, mini-spectrometers are integrated as hand-held devices, or even into cell phones for applications ranging from fruit or vegetable ripeness analysis in the supermarket to more sophisticated quality control in the food sector.
In parallel, health-related applications are accelerating. Spectroscopy is increasingly enabling personalized, non-invasive diagnostics in point-of-need (PON) or point-of-care (POC) settings. This includes breath, saliva, and urine testing for fitness monitoring or disease detection, as well as mobile diagnostic tools that can serve clinical settings, emergency scenarios, or under-resourced communities around the world.
Can you share any specific examples that demonstrate the real-world impact of optical spectroscopy?
In process analytical technologies (PAT), there’s a growing need for continuously operating methods that interface directly with processes in-line, on-line, or at-line – ideally with little to no sample preparation. Optical spectroscopies are particularly well-suited for such scenarios: they offer label-free analysis with inherent selectivity, operate non-destructively, and can be used in real time through flow-through interfaces or probes in batch reactors. Within our ongoing Collaborative Research Center CATALIGHT, we are developing PAT tools specifically adapted to monitor chemical transformations in both batch and continuous-flow photoreactors.
In environmental analysis, optical spectroscopies are being deployed across a wide range of use cases – from laboratory techniques and micro-spectroscopies in imaging mode, to field-deployable photonic sensor systems. These are being used to detect and monitor a growing list of emerging pollutants, including so-called "forever chemicals" such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and disinfection byproducts (DBPs), as well as micro- and nano-plastics. A variety of spectroscopies have been used for characterizing, classifying and monitoring such pollutants in water, and more lately in food and feed matrices too, as well as within organisms – including humans and animals.
Beyond water and environmental safety, optical techniques are also proving vital in agriculture and food analysis. As climate change and sustainability become central concerns, there is a pressing need for robust, miniaturized technologies that match lab-grade performance in the field. Optical spectroscopy is a strong candidate here. A notable resource outlining this vision is the open-access review “2025 Photonics for Agrifood Roadmap: Towards a Sustainable and Healthier Planet.”
Perhaps the most striking development – both scientifically and in terms of public attention – is the shift of spectroscopy into the medical domain. Techniques traditionally bound to the lab are now finding applications in clinical diagnostics, such as real-time intraoperative analysis or breath-based diagnostics. In our own work, we developed a miniaturized breath analyzer using photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and mid-infrared spectroscopy. This device can detect Helicobacter pylori infections via non-invasive analysis of exhaled breath. What surprised us most was the level of media and public interest this work generated – it highlighted just how strongly society is beginning to recognize and respond to accessible, non-invasive diagnostic tools.
What can attendees expect from CSI 2025?
The CSI conference has a proud and longstanding tradition dating back to 1950, when the first meeting was held in Strasbourg, France. Since then, it has evolved into a global platform for spectroscopists from all disciplines, offering a diverse and inclusive forum for scientific exchange.
CSI 2025, which we’re proud to host in Ulm, Germany (July 27–31), continues that legacy while embracing the field’s modern trajectory. The program has been designed to reflect the ongoing shift from purely academic inquiry to real-world, application-driven spectroscopy. We’re putting a strong emphasis on topics such as process analytical technologies (PAT), environmental sensing, clinical diagnostics, and PON or POC applications.
A particular highlight will be the opening plenary lecture by Prof. Ferenc Krausz, Nobel Laureate in Physics 2023. As a pioneer in attosecond spectroscopy, he will present on the topic “Toward Affordable Preventive Medicine” – a timely and thought-provoking theme that sets the perfect stage for CSI 2025.
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