Final Report Summary - SUSTAINCHEM (Conference on Knowledge-based materials and technologies for sustainable chemistry)
Main scientific topics of the conference were:
- new solvents and reaction media (e.g. Supercritical fluids (SCF), Ionic liquids (IL), fluorinated solvents);
- reactions in new solvents or mixed solvent systems (some of them were a totally new class of solvents and data about their interaction were very sparse);
- catalysis (development selective catalysts for new processes to replace stoichiometric reagents and unnecessary derivatisation);
- biocatalysis (using of enzymes is changing many areas of chemical synthesis);
- new analytical techniques based on developments in miniaturisation and nanotechnology (new technology will allow us to make more precise, sensitive and selective measurements, which can be used for modelling of reactions and processes).
The conference was advertised in several ways using public media and specialized journals and as a result there were 180 participants from 25 different countries all over the world, of which 37 were early stage researchers (graduate students). The final conference program contained 50 oral presentations, and other scientific communication was done through poster-sessions with 62 poster presentations.
The conference program was published; also the abstract-book of the conference was published. Additionally, the possibility to publish full text of presentations in pre-reviewed journal was provided. Organisers had agreement with editor of Green Chemistry and all lecturers from the conference were invited to submit a manuscript to GC based on their original work as presented in conference talks. There were given a deadline when papers should be submitted. However, all papers would undergo full peer review as ordinary papers of this journal which guarantees high level of research.
Project partner from UNOTT was active in organizing one day workshop during the conference where early stage researchers looking for widening scientific interests could get professional introduction and advice from leading researchers and scientists in this sector; the number of participants was more than 65, among them were invited local doctoral students not registered for conference.
During the conference were arranged social events (excursions at free time, conference reception and social dinner) which had very active participation.