Landmarks in Norway and Lithuania receive EuChemS recognition

The 2023 EuChemS Historical Landmark Award was received by the Blue colour works in Modum, Norway on the European Level, and by the Grotthuss Laboratory in Lithuania on the Regional level. The EuChemS Historical Landmark Award identifies chemical sites that have played a vital role in defining the cultural makeup and history of Europe, in order to recognise the importance of Chemistry in European history and cultural heritage.

The Blue colour works is a unique cobalt pigment production site with 60 well preserved buildings. In the 18-19th century, it was a key location for production of blue pigment from cobalt — both as ready-made pigment and its raw product —with arsenic as a by-product. The location hosted significant technological developments related to this process: a new method that made ores poor in cobalt commercially valuable was developed here, which led to international publications. It is a crucial historical location where chemistry innovation and industry met.

The Grotthuss Laboratory is the site where Lithuanian-born scientist and natural philosopher of German ethnicity, Theodor von Grotthuss (1785 – 1822) conducted his experiments. These experiments led to the establishment of the first theory of electrolysis in 1805 and to the formulation of the first law of photochemistry in 1817. His discoveries had a lasting impact on European chemical and physical sciences and his work contributed to later electrochemical theories and had applications in various industries and scientific fields throughout Europe.

The call for nominations for the 2024 EuChemS Historical Landmark Awards are open until 9 December.