On May 6, 2026, the Nencki Institute had the honor of hosting Professor Stefan Hell - a German physicist, recipient of the 2014 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, and pioneer of super-resolution microscopy, which has fundamentally transformed modern fluorescence imaging techniques in biology.

During his lecture, titled “Molecular-scale resolution and dynamics in fluorescence microscopy,” Professor Hell explained how the classical diffraction limit of light can be effectively overcome. Thanks to his discoveries, we now know that the ultimate resolution limit is determined by the size of fluorescent dye molecules rather than solely by the physical properties of light waves.

The visit provided an opportunity for discussions on the latest developments in high-resolution microscopy and the analysis of the dynamics of cellular structures and proteins. Prospects for further scientific and technological cooperation in the field of advanced bioimaging were also explored.

The meeting highlighted the importance of international scientific exchange and the continuous development of research infrastructure, particularly within the framework of the Polish node of Euro-BioImaging.