Nobel Laureate Dr. Omar Yaghi to Visit Alma Maters Hudson Valley Community College and the University at Albany

March 4, 2026

Dr. Omar M. Yaghi, internationally renowned chemist and 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate, will visit Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) and the University at Albany on Thursday, April 2, 2026.

Dr. Yaghi, an alumnus of both Hudson Valley and UAlbany, will be honored for his groundbreaking contributions to materials chemistry, particularly the development of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) — porous molecular structures with wide-ranging applications. His work determined these materials can capture and store gases, harvest water from air, and contribute to solutions in clean energy and environmental challenges.

The visits will feature student and community engagement opportunities, a moderated talk with the presidents of both Hudson Valley and UAlbany, tours of education and research facilities, public programming and interactions with scientists, workforce partners and regional leaders. Members of the media are asked to RSVP if interested in covering the following events:

Morning at Hudson Valley Community College

• 9:30–10:30 a.m.
  Pathways to the Prize: A Town Hall Discussion for Students, Faculty and Education Leaders
  Bulmer Telecommunications Center Auditorium
  Dr. Yaghi will engage students and faculty in science disciplines and pathways, Honors College and P-TECH programs in a conversation about scientific discovery, education pathways, and careers in science.
• 10:30 –11 a.m.
  Press Conference
• 11:30 a.m. – noon
  Campus Tour
   A guided tour highlighting academic programs, student spaces, and applied learning at Hudson Valley Community College.

Afternoon at the University at Albany

• 1:15 – 2:15 p.m.
  The 16th Kuivila Lecture
  ETEC Multipurpose Room
  Dr. Yaghi will give a talk hosted by the Chemistry department
• 3:30 – 5 p.m.
  Leadership, Discovery and Global Impact: A Community Conversation
  Performing Arts Center
  A public program featuring a moderated conversation with Dr. Yaghi and Presidents Rodríguez and Brophy featuring an audience Q&A

About Dr. Yaghi

A world-renowned chemist and James and Neeltje Tretter Professor of Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley, Dr. Omar M. Yaghi shares the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Susumu Kitagawa of Kyoto University and Richard Robson of the University of Melbourne.

Born in Amman, Jordan, his academic journey began in the Capital Region, earning an Associate in Science degree at Hudson Valley and a Bachelor’s in Chemistry at UAlbany before advancing to doctoral and postdoctoral studies and a distinguished research career.