The 66th edition of the Groupe d’Études en Chimie Organique (GECO66) will be held from 30 August to 4 September 2026 in La Londe-les-Maures. This year, it is being organised by chemists from Nice. 

The GECO group was created in 1959 under the leadership of Professor Guy Ourisson, who was notably President of the Academy of Sciences. He was inspired by the American equivalent of this scientific event, the prestigious «Gordon Research Conferences», which he attended in the 1950s.

This annual conference has now become a tradition of marking an exceptional and special moment in the year for the community of researchers and lecturers in organic chemistry. This conference is also international, because each year, it brings together between 50 and 80 professional chemists (academics and industrialists, French and foreign) for a week at the same place, with 12 prestigious guest speakers. These guests will present their most significant work in a conference lasting around an hour. On the another hand, all registered participants, will give 15-minute oral presentations on their most recent work (in english or in french).

The research topics are highly varied and combine fundamental research with its applications (health, nutrition, energy, environment). This topics include mainly the synthesis of natural molecules and analogues, catalysis, the study of new chemical reactions and new technological approaches, the study of new modes of interaction at the molecular and supramolecular level, and the application of organic chemistry to biology, as well as the development of new materials and energy. 

Alongside with these intensive scientific discussions, significant time is dedicated for outdoor activities, that offers for participants to establish contacts, which often lead to future collaborations. A fundamental principle of this GECO meeting is that it takes place in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, that encourages of maximum interaction between participants, regardless of their status.

The first edition of this meeting took place in 1960 in Sarlat (Dordogne). Since then, 65 other GECO meetings have been organised throughout France, welcoming a considerable number of famous scientists.