Flying start for UK research event

300 chemical engineers from all parts of the UK gathered at Imperial College London this week for the first national chemical engineering research meeting in more than a decade.

ChemEngDayUK 2013 was jointly organised by IChemE and the department of chemical engineering at Imperial College to provide a new forum for researchers to meet with peers from across the UK to network, collaborate and exchange ideas for the advancement of the discipline. Delegates listened to 30 invited speakers and viewed 160 poster presentations by postgraduates and post-doctoral research students.

IChemE director of policy Andrew Furlong, expressed his thanks to the organisers and declared the event to be a great success. 'Imperial College delivered a terrific event with a rich diversity of research on show. Much of the work had clear industrial application and I was treated to some thought provoking presentations addressing issues including measures to cutting the energy penalty associated with carbon capture and storage, reducing nitrate pollution in groundwater and improving efficiency in pharmaceutical production.'

The linkage with IChemE's technical strategy was clear, 'Chemical engineering matters in the UK and the ChemEngDayUK concept is an important element of our ambition to grow a confident and energetic research community', said Furlong.

'Senior figures from the EPSRC and BIS were present at the meeting and we will continue to engage with the policy makers and funding agencies in pursuit of adequate investment in the university base and for proper recognition of first rate teaching and research', he concluded.

The University of Manchester will host the second ChemEngDayUK in 2014. Built around the theme, Building on the Past, Engineering the Future, ChemEngDayUk 2014 will take place over two days on 7-8 April 2014.