The big challenges facing industry and society over the coming 5-10 years were discussed by academics and industry partners.

Industry partners and researchers from across Imperial discussed the grand challenges facing society and industry at the Institute for Molecular Science and Engineering's first Research Showcase. Professor Claire Adjiman, Editor-in-Chief of the RSC journal Molecular Systems & Design Engineering, opened the event with an introduction to the role of molecular engineering in tackling societal challenges.  

Trans-disciplinary research to tackle grand challenges 

Talks by academics and industry covered a range of challenges for which a trans-disciplinary, molecular science and engineering approach will be needed. These included new packaging materials and plastics that are biodegradable and/or fully recyclable; developing sustainable agrochemicals to ensure food supplies for a growing global population; the energy transition challenge; and aspiring to net zero consumer goods. Many of the challenges presented cut across multiple sectors and applications, provoking extensive discussions.  

Small and large companies from a variety of sectors were represented, including bp, Elekta, ICAPPIC, Procter & Gamble, Syngenta, and Unilever. The discussions continued over networking lunch and during the poster sessions. 

Molecular Engineering masters students present their research 

IMSE's MRes students showcased their multidisciplinary research project

work through flash presentations and posters. All of the student's projects involved collaborations with industry or other end-users, such as healthcare providers and museums. Projects covered a remarkably wide variety of topics: from developing a combined battery/solar cell device to investigating polymeric additives for lubricants; and from synthetic biology for precision therapeutics to modelling corrosion of steel. The Royal Society of Chemistry sponsored prizes for the best talk and poster presentations - congratulations to Yumeng Li and Shengrui Zhang!  

It's fantastic to see how much the students have developed over the course of their projects Isabella von Holstein, IMSE Research & Development Manager

Finally, we were delighted to welcome back Victor Riesgo Gonzalez to give the guest Alumni Talk. Victor was a member of the very first IMSE MRes cohort in 2017-18. He talked about how the MRes course gave him the training and research experience to work on cross-disciplinary projects. After graduating, he continued to PhD at the University of Cambridge, working on photocatalysis and photovoltaics. He's now a postdoctoral researcher at Oxford University, working on materials for energy applications, focusing primarily on extending battery life by surface modification of cathode materials.  

The day ended with a networking reception and further discussions over the posters. 

Many thanks to all the attendees, speakers and contributors, and to the Royal Society of Chemistry for sponsorship of the prizes.