CDT Students attend Summer Conferences

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Conference774w
Our CDT students attend a variety of international conferences over the summer months. These are an opportunity for them to present their work in the form of posters or talks on their research projects, and to network with people from a wide range of backgrounds including academia and industry. Hannah Burnett, a final year student, recently attended the 75th Annual Meeting of the International Society of Electrochemistry in Montreal, Canada while Darius Deaconu and Daria Dumitriu-Iovanescu attended the CMD31 conference held in Braga, Portugal,

Hannah Burnett said: "In August I had the pleasure of attending and presenting my research at the ISE 75th Annual Meeting in Montreal, Canada. It was great to hear from colleagues in the redox flow battery field but also to see how electrochemistry is being used in other areas of research. It was also an excellent opportunity to network with other early career researchers, gain valuable insights from experienced academics, and to explore a new city.

Here are some of my highlights and key takeaways from the meeting:
  • Plenary talk by Prof Rudi Marcus about his previous work on electron transfer rates and how this can be applied to other systems, including biological ones.
  • Mary Ryan gave an overview of corrosion electrochemistry, explaining how corrosion science can be applied to many different topic areas, such as investigating nanotoxicity or degradation of battery materials.


  • Talks on the commercialisation of electrochemistry
    • Ted Roberts discussed his commercialisation journey with Arvia Technology, a waste water treatment company
    • Geradine Botte talked about the development required to scale up their electrochemical treatment for waste water to become commercially viable and integrated


    Techniques to be utilised within electrochemistry:
    • 3D printing (e.g. electrodes and cells)
    • Chronoamperometry with microelectrodes


  • Novel electrolytes - not just for energy storage but may be suited to other electrochemical applications, such as CO2 reduction"


Darius Deaconu and Daria Dumitriu-Iovanescu, who are also final year CDT students recently attended the CMD31 conference in Braga, Portugal. This is an international conference covering all’aspects of Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Physics. They said "We recently had the privilege of attending the 31st General Conference of the Condensed Matter Division (CMD31), held in the vibrant city of Braga, Portugal.


"With over 1000 participants, the event featured 4 plenary and 10 semi-plenary lectures, alongside 48 topical mini-colloquia on cutting-edge topics ranging from quantum physics and superconductivity to biophysics and materials science. A standout moment was Andrea Cavalleri’s plenary talk on ’New Physics Driven Quantum Materials,’ following his receipt of the Europhysics Prize 2024.

"During one of the three poster sessions, we had the opportunity to present our work, engaging in valuable discussions that may lead to future collaborations. Networking with other researchers was one of the most rewarding aspects of the conference, as it allowed us to exchange ideas and explore interdisciplinary approaches.

"Beyond the science, the conference atmosphere was lively and inspiring. We enjoyed a memorable dinner, highlighted by a performance from an incredible opera singer, finalist of The Voice Portugal. In addition to the conference, Braga, with its deep-rooted history and scenic beauty, offered an unforgettable experience with its excellent cuisine and renowned wines."