Next Conversation / Advanced X-ray Fluorescence Imaging
Gem Trail Talks: In Conversation with Prof. Dr. Florian Grüner
Where science, industry and mining communities meet to discuss the future of responsible gemstones.
Can science tell us where a gemstone comes from? Join Prof. Florian Grüner to discover how X-ray technology could change the gem industry.
Monday, 23 November 2026 · 7:00–8:00 PM (Sri Lanka time) · Online Webinar · English
Discussion Overview
About the Session
Where does a gemstone really come from? In this interactive online session, Prof. Dr. Florian Grüner, a leading physicist from the University of Hamburg and the Center for Free-Electron Laser Science (CFEL), explores how advanced X-ray technology could help identify where gemstones originate — bringing new transparency, trust and responsible sourcing to the global gemstone industry.
The session features a presentation, a moderated conversation and an interactive Q&A. Open to gemstone enthusiasts, jewellers, researchers, students and industry professionals.
What Will We Explore?
The science behind gemstones: how X-rays reveal information hidden inside a gemstone.
Tracing origin: whether scientific technology can help determine where a gemstone was mined.
Trust and transparency: how these discoveries could change the way gemstones are traded and verified.
The future of traceability: the opportunities and challenges ahead.
No scientific background is required. Just bring your curiosity!
Meet the speaker
Prof. Dr. Florian Grüner
Professor, University of Hamburg and Center for Free-Electron Laser Science (CFEL)
Prof. Dr. Florian Grüner is a Professor at the University of Hamburg, Germany, and the Center for Free-Electron Laser Science (CFEL). He heads the university’s Accelerator Physics Group since 2011. He is one of the pioneers of advanced X-ray Fluorescence Imaging, aiming at unprecedented detection sensitivity limits for life science and material analytics studies.
Before his appointment at the University of Hamburg, he was a Professor of Physics at LMU Munich, a visiting scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in the USA and a postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics in Germany. He holds a doctorate in Physics from LMU Munich.
Key Takeaways
Highlights and key takeaways will be shared after the conversation.
Related Publications
Reading recommendations will accompany the confirmed discussion topic.
Browse research & publications