Developing future, global leaders in sustainable chemistry at iCAST

How do we develop future leaders in sustainable chemistry – in particular, chemists from diverse backgrounds, with international research experience and an understanding of global scientific challenges and solutions?

Through the Bath Institute of Sustainability and Climate Change (ISCC), we are collaborating with the University of North Carolina Greensboro (UNCG) on a three-year National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded International Research Experience for Undergraduates (IREU) that aims to do just that.

Pioneering multidisciplinary training in sustainable technologies

“One of the primary goals of ‘Chemistry for a Sustainable Future – an International Research Experience in the UK’ is to give chemistry students in the US an opportunity to work at an internationally recognised centre known for pioneering multidisciplinary training in sustainable chemical technologies and fostering the integration of science and engineering to drive research and innovation,” said Co-Principal Investigators Professor Norman Chiu from UNCG and Professor Anne Glenn from Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina.

The IREU is especially aimed at students at Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs) or community colleges, which are often smaller than large research universities in the US, can be private or public, and offer varying levels of resources for students and faculty. IREU participants are recruited as rising juniors or seniors (equivalent to second- and final-year students in England), with the goal that at least half are from underrepresented groups in STEM.

This year, nine students from colleges and universities in southeastern US undertook a 10-week summer placement (first week in the US, nine weeks at the University of Bath) and were mentored by members of ISCC and iCAST from the Departments of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. Their research projects were focused on sustainable chemistry, including polymer chemistry, chemical catalysis, solid-state chemistry, and nanochemistry.

“We take great pride in inspiring and training the next generation of scientists and engineers who will be at the forefront of addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges,” said iCAST Executive Director Professor Matthew Davidson. “At iCAST, our core research programmes span sustainable manufacturing, circular plastics, biobased feedstocks and sustainable engineering materials. Providing bright young minds with structured research experience and mentorship is an essential component of our work” 

Emma Hughes (centre left) stands next to Dr Simon Freakley (left), Dr Jon Husband (centre right) and Zac Warren (right).

Meet IREU participant Emma Hughes

Emma tells us about her experience working in the iCAST lab at the University of Bath and whether the goals of the IREU matched those of her own.

Why did you apply for this IREU programme?

I applied for this programme to have an opportunity to do research while fulfilling a course requirement in my major, and to have the opportunity to study abroad without as much of a financial stressor.

Describe the research project you worked on and its potential impact.

My mentor was Dr Simon Freakley, based at the University of Bath’s Department of Chemistry and a Programme Lead for iCAST’s Biobased Feedstocks core research programme. The project I have been working on is towards bimetallic catalysis for sustainable recycling of chlorine in waste, such as PVC.

In this project, we took model chlorine sources and ran them through an oxidising catalytic cycle to transfer the chlorine to an acceptor molecule, adapted from a paper by Dyson and coworkers ⁽¹⁾. We are also working towards combining the heterogenous Pd catalyst with the homogenous catalytic Cu source into one heterogenous PdCu catalyst. This project has the potential to protect the environment from HCl leakage through waste and improve the economic and sustainability credentials of this potential waste valorisation process.

What type of support and guidance did you receive from your mentor at Bath?

I received guidance on the technical aspects of research, such as presentations and posters, as well as the physical aspect, such as lab techniques and formulating procedures. I have also felt supported by my mentor and lab mates in the fact that they would check in on me and make sure I was enjoying my time outside of lab as well as in lab.

What skills have you gained from this experience?

I have become more confident in my abilities in the lab; my perseverance skills have improved, and I have learned valuable laboratory skills such running NMR spectroscopy tests, prepping XRD samples, and synthesising catalysts.

What has been the most surprising or unexpected outcome of participating in this IREU?

The most surprising outcome for me has been how welcomed I have felt during this whole trip. Even though I have had no formal research experience, I was encouraged to ask questions and I did not feel like I was falling behind because of it. This really comforted me and showed that I had been worrying for nothing.

How has participating in this IREU enhanced your understanding of global scientific challenges and solutions?

My research project focused on a problem I had never really given much thought to prior to participating in this IREU. The experience has also introduced me to problems that others are working on that I hadn’t known much about. Being able to learn about what everyone else in the programme is working on has been eye opening.

Finally, how has this IREU influenced your future career plans or academic goals?

This IREU has influenced my career and academic goals by strengthening my desire to go to graduate school and do research back at my home institution.

• Liu, M.; Wu, X.; Dyson, P. J. Chem. 2024, 16 (5), 700–708 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-024-01462-8.