Affiliate wins prestigious essay competition
The International Organization for Chemical Sciences in Development (IOCD), in collaboration with the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), recently announced the winners of its annual essay competition on the role of the chemical sciences in sustainability. The theme for the 2025 competition was "From waste to wealth: how chemical sciences can sustainably transform waste into valuable products".
IOCD Global Essay Competition
SCHEMA affiliate Freya Butler
Now in its third year, the competition is open globally to entrants under 35 years of age, and is grouped into seven regions for shortlisting and selection of winners, based on the entrant’s country of normal residence. These include: East Asia & Pacific, Europe & Central Asia, Latin America & Caribbean, Middle East & North Africa, North America, South Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Each regional winner received a prize of US$500 and entries have been published in a special collection of RSC Sustainability. Oxford doctoral student, and SCHEMA affiliate, Frederica (Freya) Butler, won in the Europe and Central Asia category. We caught up with Freya and asked her a few questions:
Why did you decide to enter? The theme of the essay competition, from 'waste to wealth', fits well with the motivation behind my PhD research, and I wanted to encourage myself to think beyond the technical science aspect of the solution and take a more holistic view, considering policy, economic, and social factors and their role in promoting a sustainable, circular economy.
What is your essay about? My essay is titled 'From rags to riches: the role of the chemical sciences in transforming waste into valuable products', and focuses on three prevalent forms of waste in modern society: carbon dioxide waste, plastic waste, and waste electronic and electrical equipment. I evaluate a diverse range of chemical methods that can be applied to valorize these distinct waste streams, and highlight the key future research directions.
What does this collection of winning entries (from different regions) in RSC Sustainability mean/contribute to the field of knowledge? The competition gives young people an opportunity to express their perspectives on using the chemical sciences for sustainable human development and growth. The aim is to encourage chemists to adopt a wider perspective and cross-disciplinary working in order to tackle planetary challenges.
Which of the other essays did you find interesting? Any themes that link with your essay? I enjoyed reading the other essays, in particular the East Asia and Pacific entry which looks in detail at government-led waste-to-wealth initiatives, and how mathematical modelling can be used to suggest the most fruitful research directions for chemists.
Read the collection of winning essays in RSC Sustainability here.
Read the 36 additional essays that were selected as finalists in the competition in the IOCD compendium here.
