The Henry Royce Institute Student Summit 2021 – Advanced Materials for a Sustainable Society – is a two-day virtual conference aimed at UK doctoral students undertaking work in materials-related subjects.
What is the summit about?
The inaugural Royce Student Summit aims to bring together the UK materials PhD and EngD community to share research, network, and learn more about transitioning from doctoral study to the next step on the career ladder.
The theme of the Summit is Advanced Materials for a Sustainable Future, focussing in particular on 5 key challenges:
- Transition to Zero Carbon: including new modes of energy generation, storage and use – from hydrogen to fusion power – and energy efficient devices
- Sustainable Manufacture: including efficient housing, clean transport and transforming foundation industries for clean manufacturing
- Digital and Communications: including low energy storage for data, quantum technologies for computing, sensors, and data storage
- Circular Economy: including rethinking the way we use plastic and engage with waste streams, and developing truly degradable materials
- Health and Wellbeing: including reducing carbon emissions and enabling clean water production, delivering personalised medicine, and supporting the ageing population
Who is the summit for?
The Royce Student Summit is free to attend and open to doctoral candidates studying a materials-related subject and affiliated with a UK institution, and well as their academic or industrial supervisors. The Summit will primarily be of interest to students whose doctoral research projects are based in materials science and in related disciplines (such as chemical engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, chemistry, mathematics, biological and biomedical sciences) and:
- where the design, making, characterisation and function of a material are key aspects of the project
- where their research can be linked to one or more of the five key challenges presented above.
Why attend?
This two-day conference will offer students opportunities to:
- hear from established industry leaders and academics – as well as other doctoral students – about the latest developments in materials science;
- meet and network with other doctoral students and their supervisors;
- apply to present posters and talks;
- participate in workshops addressing five of the top challenges in materials science today;
- gain insights into future career paths and the current jobs market for doctoral graduates in materials-related fields.
How can I be involved?
We will shortly be opening applications to present posters and talks at the event, aligned with the five key challenges (Transition to Zero Carbon, Sustainable Manufacture, Digital & Communications, Circular Economy, and Health & Wellbeing).
All registrants will receive an email inviting them/their students to submit an application to share a poster or present a talk on Day 1 of the summit.
Supervisors may wish to volunteer to facilitate one of the sessions on Day 2 – please email register@roycestudentsummit.org to express your interest. (There is no commitment at this stage; a member of Royce will contact you to discuss how you could help.)
