Okinawa Colloids 2019

3-8 November 2019, Okinawa, Japan

The joint RSC/SCI colloids committee is delighted to partner with The Division of Colloid and Surface Chemistry (DCSC) of The Chemical Society of Japan as part of the OKINAWA COLLOIDS 2019 international conference. The OKINAWA COLLOIDS 2019 conference is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the divisional meeting of the DCSC and will provide one of the finest opportunities for researchers worldwide to discuss the latest developments across the multidisciplinary fields of colloid and interface sciences, while also enjoying the tropical atmosphere of Japan’s southern island.

Industrial and interdisciplinary applications of suspensions

Graham Lecture and Symposium 2019, SCI, Belgrave Square, London, UK

Tuesday 9th July 2019

Organised by SCI’s Colloid & Surface Chemistry Group and RSC’s Colloid & Interface Science Group

This meeting showcased recent advances in suspension science, with a particular emphasis on proven and potential applications to industry and other disciplines such as geology.  The programme was concluded with the 2019 Graham Lecture by Professor Wilson Poon (Edinburgh University), who, together with a set of outstanding industrial and academic speakers, will address real-world applications based on excellent science. 

The Graham Lecture is awarded, biennially, to a scientist in the UK who in the prime of their research career who has established an international reputation in colloid science by their distinguished contributions to the field.

The full program of this event can be found at this link.

A flyer for the event can be found at this link.

Rideal Lecture 2019 – Perspectives on Polymer Colloids Research

Friday 12 April 2019, SCI, London, UK

The Sir Eric Rideal Lecture honours an individual who has made a sustained and distinguished contribution to colloid and interface science in the UK and a one-day scientific meeting is organised around the winner. This year’s awardee is Professor Peter Lovell from the University of Manchester. This year’s one-day symposium featured six invited lectures by his colleagues and collaborators to talk on both their more recent research related to polymer colloids and the newest challenges in the field. The meeting concluded with Professor Lovell’s Rideal award lecture.

This meeting brought together chemists, chemical engineers and physicists interested in the fundamentals of polymer colloids research, as well those interested in the preparation, analysis and application of these materials. One of the aims of the meeting was to allow young researchers and students a unique platform to get first-hand information from world-renowned scientists on topics of prime importance in colloid science.

The flyer for this event can be down loaded from this link.

Making and breaking colloidal assemblies: Using chemical, physical, and mechanical stimuli to control soft matter

McBain Medal Meeting 2018

SCI, Belgrave Square, London, UK Tuesday 11 December 2018

Organised by SCI’s Colloid & Surface Chemistry Group and RSC’s Colloid & Interface Science Group

This meeting was for both industrial and academic researchers, particularly those from colloid chemistry, soft matter physics and chemical engineering backgrounds working in functional, responsive, and self-healing materials; controlled release; tuneable soft materials and soft actuation. The meeting  focussed on fundamental aspects that underpin applications in formulations, catalysis, soft robotics, nanomaterials processing and more.  In addition to hearing great presentations and the opportunity to contribute a poster, there was plenty of scope for networking to catch up with old friends and make new ones.

Synopsis This meeting showcased outstanding soft matter scientists describing some of their recent research in a programme constructed by Dr Valeria Garbin of Imperial College London.  Dr Garbin is the 2018 recipient of the McBain Medal and her lecture and the presentation of the award conclude the meeting.  Dr Garbin’s research programme focuses on fundamental aspects of microscale transport phenomena in soft and biological matter. Her team has performed the first measurement of steric interactions between nanoparticles at fluid interfaces, discovered new mechanisms of the removal of nanoparticles from fluid interfaces, and pioneered the use of optical tweezers to manipulate biocolloids for ultrasound medical imaging. The McBain Medal is presented annually to an early career researcher (within 15 years of the award of a PhD) for outstanding achievement in colloid and interface science. 

The full program can be found in this link.

Inaugural Early Career Colloid meeting

A two-day meeting for recent appointees in colloid and interface science, 17–18 September 2018, Sheffield

The 2018 Early Career Colloid (ECC) meeting brought together colloid scientists from industry and academia to provide a forum for discussion, networking and facilitate knowledge exchange.

This two-day meeting in Sheffield on 17–18 September was aimed at researchers in the field of colloids and interface science who are within 10 years of their first appointment. Academics, industrialists, research fellows and postdocs were all invited.

The conference incorporated plenary lectures from Prof. Peter Dowding (Infineum) and Prof. Steven Armes (University of Sheffield). It includes symposia covering a broad range of subjects in colloid science, networking opportunities, as well as panel discussions to encourage collaboration, stimulate discussions and provide an open forum for advice. Coffee, lunch and poster sessions and a conference dinner allowed attendees to build on their collaborative network and benefit from peer exchange.

This conference was been made possible through generous support from the Royal Society of Chemistry and SCI Joint Colloid Committee. Sponsorship has also been provided by Synthomer and the RSC Journals Polymer Chemistry and Soft Matter.

Conference organisers: Dr Gemma-Louise Davies (University College London), Dr Lee Fielding (University of Manchester), Dr Fiona Hatton (University of Sheffield) and Dr Kirsty Stark (University of Leeds).

8th Annual MIBio Conference

MIBio 2018: Stability of Biopharmaceuticals – From Molecular Interactions to Successful Products

Thursday 15th November Downing College, Cambridge

The MIBio conference series engages world leading experts from industry and academia in a discussion in how the latest molecular interaction based discoveries can be exploited in biopharmaceutical formulation to produce more effective, patient-friendly and safer therapeutic products.

With growing competition in the market, patient-centric product strategies, an increasing variety of products in development and more complex regulatory requirements, the demand for formulation of therapeutic proteins are increasing. In addition, the formulation patent landscape is becoming more complicated which further contributes to the challenge of development robust dosage forms. MIBio 2018 focussed on discussing these challenges as well as strategies to overcome them, particularly focusing on formulation, drug product development and device and regulatory strategies.We welcomed 89 delegates from industry and academia creating an interesting and stimulating event fostering new collaborations and discoveries that will help steer the development of the next generation formulation technologies.

MIBio 2018 is organised by the Formulation Science and Technology Group (FSTG) and the Joint Colloids Group (SCI) of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) together with the Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences (APS). The event was held on 15th November 2018, Howard Theatre, Downing College, Cambridge, UK.

For more information please follow this link: www.mibio-conference.com 

Commercialisation of Pickering Emulsions, Thursday, 23rd November 2017, RSC, London

Co-organised with the Industrial Physical Chemistry Group, the Commercialisation of Pickering Emulsions offer a day-long programme to:

• enhance the interface between industry and academia with respect to further understanding of Pickering technologies and to identify any challenges in commercialisation;

• establish “A Beginners Guide to Pickering Technologies”;

• direct future academic research to tackle the perceived current commercial limitations of Pickering emulsions; and

• give young colloid scientists the opportunity to meet established companies in the field.

Casting Dispersions, Monday 26 March 2018, SCI, London, UK

When a colloidal dispersion is dried the material transitions from a liquid to a solid. The process determines the final properties of the dry material and understanding the physics of the drying is crucial for a range of industries, including paints and varnishes, pottery and self-assembly applications.

This one day meeting comprised invited lectures by international experts. We also had talks from submitted abstracts to highlight the breadth of work being carried out on the drying of films in the UK. The meeting was aimed at industrialists formulating and producing coatings through to agrochemicals, as well as academics who work in colloids, fluid mechanics and formulations.

For a flyer for this event please visit this link.

McBain award lecture and symposium, Tuesday, 12th December 2017, SCI, London

Watching colloids work

The McBain medal is awarded annually by the RSC/SCI Joint Colloids Group to recognize a rising star in colloid and interface science. The 2017 McBain medal awardee is Dr Rico Tabor (Monash University). This meeting showcased some of the latest work in colloids that respond to external stimuli, and state-of-the-art techniques to ‘watch them work’, with applications in areas as diverse as smart water treatment and functional foods.

The meeting was held on Tuesday, 12th December 2017 at the SCI in London and included talks from

• Prof Julian Eastoe, University of Bristol, UK

• Prof Alex Routh, University of Cambridge, UK

• Dr Isabelle Grillo, Institut Laue-Langevin, France

• Dr Sarah Rogers, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, STFC, UK Prof Ray Dagastine, University of Melbourne, Australia

• Prof Charl Faul, University of Bristol, UK

The meeting will conclude with the award lecture from Dr Rico Tabor. A dedicated poster session will also give students the opportunity to present their work.

A flyer for the event can be found at this link.

Colloid Young Researchers’ Meeting, 10th April 2017

The Colloid Young Researcher’s meeting held at the University of Sheffield earlier this year was a great success. The day involved seven talks from a variety of PhD students, Postdocs and other early career researchers, in addition to two keynote lectures from Dr Kuhan Chellappah (BP) and Dr Gemma Davies (formerly University of Warwick, now UCL). A panel session was organised where delegates could ask questions related to career development to more established (but still relatively early career) researchers from different backgrounds, including academia, industry, and research councils. During the breaks, posters were presented, and prizes were awarded for the best poster along with the best oral presentation from a PhD student. The winner for the Best Talk was Adam Hardy from Heriot Watt University, on designing solvents for carbon nanotubes, and the winner of the Best Poster was Joanna Starkie from the University of Cambridge, on the mechanism of wax anti-settling additives. The day was an excellent opportunity for the attendees to develop presenting skills, and also build professional networks with other early career researchers. In total, 30 delegates were in attendance from more than 10 different institutions.

Report by Fiona Hatton and Rhys Williams

Membership

You can become a member by joining one of the two groups:

SCI Colloid & Surface Chemistry Group (CSCG).  http://www.soci.org/Membership-and-Networks/Technical-Groups/Colloid-and-Surface-Chemistry-Group

RSC Colloid & Interface Science Group (CISG). http://www.rsc.org/membership/networking/InterestGroups/colloidscience/

The former is open to SCI members only. The latter is open both to RSC members and associates AND to scientists and engineers who belong, either, to a chartered professional or learned body from outside the chemical sciences, or to another chemical society with whom the RSC has entered into an international partnership agreement approved by RSC Council. Non-RSC members of CISG pay RSC a small annual fee to cover administration and postage.

For information on how to become a member of the Society of Chemical Industry (SCI) or Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) please see the links below:

http://www.soci.org/Membership-and-Networks http://www.rsc.org/Membership/join/admission/index.asp 

Non-members of RSC wishing to join CISG should contact the RSC Membership Dept. (contact details at http://www.rsc.org/Membership/join/admission/Contacts.asp), asking to join the Colloid & Interface Science Interest Group, only, and mentioning their own affiliation.  The membership administration fee is £10 currently. In case of difficulty please contact a member of the Joint Committee.

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