CITAC Best Paper Award for Publication Co-Authored by Dr. Bor Krajnc / 26.02.2026
A recent scientific publication co‑authored by our department’s co-worker has received the prestigious CITAC Best Paper Award 2025, recognising exceptional contributions to chemical metrology. The award highlights the global impact of the team’s work on stable isotope reference materials.
The international Committee on Reference Materials and Methods for Analytical Chemistry (CITAC) has honoured the publication “Stable Isotope Reference Materials and Scale Definitions — Outcomes of the 2024 IAEA Experts Meeting” with the CITAC Best Paper Award 2025. CITAC is the oldest international organisation dedicated to advancing metrology in chemistry, continuously promoting quality, comparability, and innovation in chemical measurement science.
Among the distinguished team of global experts, the paper includes Dr. Bor Krajnc from our department as one of the co-authors. The award recognises outstanding scientific contributions published in the previous year and underscores the importance of the work in establishing consistent, high‑quality stable isotope reference materials and scale definitions that support analytical chemistry, environmental monitoring, climate research, and beyond.
As part of the recognition, the authors will receive official certificates, and one representative will deliver an award lecture at a mutually convenient scientific platform. A summary of the research will also be published in CITAC News, and the award will be highlighted on CITAC’s website and social media channels.
Scientific Insight from the Award-Winning Paper
The paper reports key outcomes of the 12th IAEA Experts Meeting on stable isotope reference materials. The experts reached a consensus on the coexistence and practical use of two carbon isotope delta scales—VPDB and VPDB‑LSVEC—and clarified how conversion models between these scales can be applied, while recognising the additional uncertainty such conversions introduce. A unified format for defining isotope delta scales was agreed upon and used to formalise the definitions of major carbon and oxygen isotope scales (VPDB, VPDB‑LSVEC, VSMOW‑SLAP). The meeting also highlighted the need for a second defining point for the nitrogen and sulfur isotope delta scales.
Award: https://www.citac.group/publications/
Paper: https://analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/rcm.10018