Co-hosted by the Institute of Sustainability and Climate Change (ISCC) and the Centre for Doctoral Training in Sustainable Chemical Technologies: A Systems Approach (CSCT), the 2025 Summer Showcase connected PhD students, researchers, industry partners, and policy makers to explore innovative ways of addressing worldwide environmental and sustainability challenges.

The event marked a significant milestone as the first year of the ISCC and the opening of the new EPSRC-funded CSCT, which trains the next generation of scientists to tackle critical sustainability challenges through interdisciplinary research and innovation.

The collaboration between the ISCC and CSCT exemplifies the power of bringing together established expertise with emerging talent. While the ISCC provides the research infrastructure and academic leadership, the CSCT contributes its unique systems approach to sustainable chemical technologies, training PhD students who will become tomorrow's sustainability leaders.

Leading voices in sustainability science

The Showcase featured distinguished speakers who demonstrated the global reach of sustainability research.

Professor Walter Leitner from the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion presented strategies for redesigning petrochemical processes using renewable energy and sustainable feedstocks to achieve net zero. He showcased adaptive catalytic systems, ferromagnetic nanomaterials for thermally challenging reactions, and novel tandem processes with renewable inputs.

Drawing on insights from Jane Goodall and Max Planck's emphasis on understanding before application, Professor Leitner urged researchers to harness their creativity in developing cleaner processes and better products for a sustainable future.

Professor Silvia Gross from the University of Padova challenged attendees to rethink chemistry's role in the circular economy. Drawing on her work in sustainable wet chemistry and critical raw materials recovery, her presentation highlighted practical applications from copper and phosphorus recovery to next-generation catalysis for energy conversion.

Professor Jim Watson, Professor of Energy Policy at UCL, explored the evolving energy landscape and the crucial role of research in shaping policy decisions. His presentation on "Research, Evidence and UK Energy Policy" highlighted how academic insights can inform national energy strategies and support the UK's ambition to become a clean energy superpower.

Professor Cristina García Fontán from the University of A Coruña, currently visiting Bath, presented her work on "Bridging the green gap: Local tools for climate-resilient landscapes." Her research with the People-Environment Research Group demonstrates how local solutions, community engagement, and inclusive design can create landscapes that are both beautiful and sustainable, bringing together citizens, experts, businesses, and institutions.

Industry innovation and entrepreneurship

Two Industry Showcase presentations emphasised the vital role of industry partnerships in translating research into real-world impact:

  • Dr Stefanie Federle, Chief Scientific Officer at Kelpi, presented the company's ground-breaking work in developing seaweed-based packaging materials that offer a sustainable alternative to traditional plastics
  • Jeff Ive, Chief Technical Officer at Adaptavate, introduced their innovative building materials made from agricultural waste, demonstrating how circular economy principles can transform the construction industry

Policy and practice connections

A highlight of this year's Showcase was the introduction of a policy panel discussion that tackled one of the most pressing questions in sustainability research: how can academic institutions translate cutting-edge research into real-world impact? The session brought together an influential cross-sector panel to explore the pathways from innovation to implementation.

Chaired by Dr Stephen Allen, Associate Director of the ISCC, the panel featured voices from across the policy ecosystem:

  • Antonia Mattos, Head of Energy Research at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, brought national government perspectives on the UK's clean energy superpower mission
  • Roger Hoare, Director of Environment at the West of England Combined Authority, shared insights on translating research into place-based solutions
  • Dr Rob Cooke, Sustainability Director at Buro Happold, explored industry-academia collaboration for systemic change
  • Dr Yixian Sun, Associate Professor in International Development at Bath, examined how academic institutions can maintain international momentum on climate action

Research in action

The Showcase spotlighted major research projects that demonstrate the Institute's impact across different scales and sectors:

These projects exemplify the Institute's commitment to research that spans from fundamental science to policy implementation, addressing challenges in materials, construction, and social change.

Future leaders

While the Summer Showcase featured distinguished guest speakers and high-level policy and industry discussions, the event also provided a platform for the next generation of sustainability researchers to share their work.

Cohort 24 from the CSCT delivered a series of engaging one-minute flash presentations, while ISCC students gave 3MT and Ignite Talks. These sharp summaries of students' PhD research demonstrated both the breadth of current sustainability research and the communication skills being developed through the CSCT's public engagement training.

The quality and confidence displayed in these presentations highlighted not only the calibre of research being conducted but also the importance of preparing students to translate their findings into real-world impact, from innovative recycling technologies to social transformation strategies.

Recognising excellence

The Showcase concluded with the presentation of several prestigious awards recognising outstanding research contributions.

Janet Scott Prize

The Janet Scott Prize was presented by Giovanna Laudisio, CEO of Naturbeads, to Babak Niyaziesfiyani for his innovative work integrating glucose fuel cells with power management systems.

Abel+Imray Prize

The Abel+Imray Prize for best research paper was awarded by partner Tom Turner to Nicola Ceolotto for his research on wastewater-based epidemiology, demonstrating how environmental monitoring can inform public health policy.

Poster prizes

Poster prizes were awarded to Eva Hawkins (first prize), Hamilton Forbes-Lane (second prize), and Anita Plumley (third prize), recognising the high quality of research being conducted by the ISCC’s and CSCT’s PhD students.

Building a sustainable future

The combination of doctoral training, innovative research, industry collaboration, policy engagement, international partnerships, positions the ISCC and CSCT partnership as a model for how academic institutions can drive systemic change.

The 2025 Summer Showcase reinforced the commitment to multidisciplinary collaboration, with researchers working across physical, social, and systems sciences.

Together, the ISCC and CSCT continue to develop leaders who can navigate the intersection of science, policy, and practice in tackling critical global sustainability challenges.

As the CSCT trains the next generation of scientists and engineers in sustainable chemical technologies, and the Institute provides the research infrastructure and academic leadership, this partnership ensures that both current research excellence and future innovation capacity are aligned towards creating a more sustainable world.