SCHEMA Hub Spring Conference 2025

Over two days at the University of Bath, the SCHEMA Hub Spring Conference brought together leading academics, industry experts, and early-career scientists to share knowledge, build partnerships, and shape the future of sustainable chemical manufacturing.

The conference welcomed delegates from across the UK and beyond, blending scientific talks, industry engagement, and career development in a programme designed to inform, inspire, and connect.

Day 1: Work Package Highlights and Industry Collaboration

The first day centred on our core scientific themes, with presentations from the SCHEMA Hub Work Package Leads, offering updates on progress and research directions in areas including renewable chemicals, sustainability assessments, materials development, and digital innovation.

 

A particular highlight was the contribution from Dr Matilde Concilio, a SCHEMA-affiliated researcher, who shared exciting new findings recently published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS). The talk entitled "Precise Carboxylic Acid-Functionalized Polyesters in Reprocessable Vitrimers" showcased the impactful work being done by researchers aligned with the Hub.

The afternoon concluded with a Partner Engagement Session, where industry voices took centre stage. Talks from Dr Adam Jarvis (Unilever) and Dr Stefan Lawrenson (Scott Bader) highlighted the value of industry-academic collaboration and provided valuable input on co-creation opportunities within the Hub.

The day closed with a well-attended networking reception and a conference dinner at The Ivy Bath Brasserie, where lively discussion continued well into the evening.

Day 2: Supporting the Next Generation

Day two focused on developing future sustainable leaders, kicking off with the launch of mentorship within SCHEMA and an insightful career journey talk from Dr Hannah Leese, a SCHEMA Co-Investigator. This was followed by engaging project presentations from the six SCHEMA funded PDRAs now in post, working on Discovery Research Projects. These peer-led sessions offered valuable understanding into the diverse backgrounds, ambitions, and contributions of the Hub's PDRA network.

Key Announcements & Looking Ahead

The conference also marked the announcement of the SCHEMA Hub Early-Stage Commercialisation Project Call, set to open in June 2025. The initiative will fund 5–8 projects, supporting translational research and engagement with SCHEMA’s strategic partners.

Looking forward, the SCHEMA Hub will host a one-day symposia in Liverpool on 20 May, a workshop in Swindon on 25 June, followed by the SCHEMA Hub Autumn Conference in Oxford on 15–16 September.