Ioanna Itskou received SCN funding to attending the 2024 MRS Meeting in Boston, USA

I am thankful and honoured to have received the Solar Chemicals Network (SCN) Travel Award to attend (and present at) the 2024 MRS Fall Meeting & Exhibit, in Boston, MA, USA during 1-6 December 2024.

Thanks to this award, I was able to take part in such a valuable experience. While I have been lucky enough to attend several scientific events throughout my PhD, this conference was a unique opportunity for me, as a final year PhD student about to submit my thesis. Firstly, it was an opportunity to present the last part of my work, which had only recently been summarised in a manuscript, ready to be submitted for publication. My session was related to materials for solar fuels production, with many experts and rising researchers in attendance. My oral presentation was well received, with engagement and many questions from the audience. I also attended many interesting talks, and discovered new scientific methods, research outputs, as well as troubleshooting experiences and insights related to the solar fuels field. I was able to make new connections and renew old ones, including PhD students, fellows and faculty. This greatly boosted my visibility as a scientist, independent thinking and (collaborating) network. Finally, in terms of both timing and connections, this was a one-of-a-kind chance for me to discuss with prospective future hosts/employers and introduce myself not just as a researcher, but also as an eligible candidate.

Guanglei Chen attends the Atom Probe Tomography School in France

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the Solar Chemical Network for providing me with the opportunity to attend the Atom Probe Tomography (APT) School. During this program, I had the chance to connect with experts from around the world. The lectures offered an in-depth understanding of the development and advancements in APT technology, helping me better understand its advantages and limitations. This knowledge will be invaluable in applying APT techniques to solve my own scientific challenges.

The hands-on sessions were especially beneficial. By learning about the experimental setup in their university lab, I gained the insights needed to establish a similar setup in my own laboratory. Additionally, engaging in discussions with other researchers allowed me to address specific issues in my work and gain valuable perspectives.

Louise Oldham (Imperial) awarded funds to attend the n7th International Symposium on Solar Fuels and Solar Cells, China

Thanks to the Solar Chemicals Network Travel Award, I was able to attend the 7th International Symposium on Solar Fuels and Solar Cells in Dalian, China. It was my first time giving an oral presentation at an international conference, and I also had the opportunity to present a poster on my spectroscopy studies of metal oxide photoanodes for solar water splitting. This led to some thought-provoking and helpful conversations with other scientists, which have given me lots to think about in terms of my ongoing research. It was also great to hear presentations from some of the leading scientists in the solar fuels field. I was able to meet with some of my research collaborators in person for the first time, leading to many insightful discussions about data and future projects. I particularly enjoyed networking with other early career researchers from a range of institutions and finding out more about how other research groups function. It was exciting spending time with so many researchers who care about the same fundamental research challenges as I do, and the conversations I had have left me more motivated than ever going into the final stages of my PhD. It was a great opportunity to develop my own science communication skills and I am very grateful to the Solar Chemicals Network for making this experience possible.