History

The University of Latvia Faculty of Chemistry was founded in 1919. Later, in 1958 it was incorporated into the Riga Polytechnic Institute (today – Riga Technical University). However, soon after, in 1964, the Faculty of Chemistry was re-established at the University of Latvia. The first dean of the newly established faculty was Gunārs Slaidiņš, who had only recently (1958) completed his studies at the Faculty of Chemistry of the State University of Latvia, and in 1961 – postgraduate studies in electrochemistry in Moscow. Initially, the Faculty of Chemistry had 2 chairs: the Chair of Organic and Physical Chemistry, headed by Assistant Professor Valdemārs Grīnšteins, and the Chair of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry headed by Assistant Professor Edgars Jansons. Already in the first year, the new faculty offered students both day and evening studies. Two years later, in 1966, the Chair of Organic and Physical Chemistry was divided into the Chair of Organic Chemistry and the Chair of Physical Chemistry. Subsequently, in 1969, the Chair of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry was also divided into the Chair of Inorganic and General Chemistry and the Chair of Analytical Chemistry. The year 1990 brought changes at the Faculty of Chemistry, altering the study process by creating bachelor's and master's study programmes and in 1992 the Department of Evening Studies was discontinued. In 1991, the Environmental Study Programme was established.

Both the bachelor's and master's programmes “Chemistry” at the University of Latvia Faculty of Chemistry have been endorsed with the European quality labels "Chemistry Eurobachelor" and "Chemistry Euromaster" issued by the European Chemistry Thematic Network Association. The students of the faculty successfully publish their research in international scientific articles and receive both local and international scholarships.