UK-China Sustainable Synthesis Symposium

Location
Biosciences 301, Biosciences Building (R27 on campus map), Molecular Sciences Building Ground Floor Foyer
Dates
Monday 4 August (08:00) - Tuesday 5 August 2025 (17:00)
Contact

Dr Erli Lu

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Making synthetic chemistry more sustainable is a global trend; both the UK and China are playing a leading role.

The first UK-China Sustainable Synthesis Symposium aims to provide a platform for early-career researchers working in mechanochemistry, base-metal catalysis and photocatalysis to share knowledge and to expand networks. 

 The Symposium is free to attend.

Programme

Day 1

08:00-09:00 

 Registration and collection of name badges (Molecular Sciences Building)
09:00-10:00  Opening speeches (Bioscienes 301 onwards until the morning tea break)

09:00 – 09:10

Professor Neil Champness, Head of School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham

09:10 – 09:20 

Dr Christopher Windows-Yule, Director of Innovation, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Birmingham

09:20 – 09:30 

Mr Zhuocun Lin, President of TusPark UK
09:30-09:45  Introduction of RSC Mechanochemistry. Dr Sarah Rainford (pdf), RSC Publishing
09:45-10:30  Title: TBC. Professor Tomislav Friščić, University of Birmingham
 10:30-11:00  Tea break (Molecular Sciences Building Foyer)
  Biosciences 301 onwards until lunch:
 11:00-11:45 Title: TBC. Professor Roman Boulatov, School of Chemistry, University of Liverpool. Chair: Dr Erli Lu.
 11:45-12:30 Title: Recent advances in mechanochemical reactions of [60]fullerene and non-fullerene molecules.
Professor Guanwu Wang (pdf), Anhui Normal University / University of Science and Technology of China. Chair: Dr Erli Lu.
 12:30-13:45 Lunch (Molecular Sciences Building Foyer)
 

Biosciences 301 onwards until the afternoon tea break:
 14:00-14:45

Title: TBC. Professor Zhong Lian. Sichuan University. Chair: Dr Deborah Crawford.
 14:45-15:30  Title: TBC. Dr Tristan Borchers, School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham. Chair: Dr Deborah Crawford.
 15:30-16:15  Tea break (Molecular Sciences Building Foyer)
  Biosciences 301 onwards until dinner:
 16:30-17:15  Title: Tie, pull, release: forcing polymers into (re)action. Professor Guillaume De Bo (pdf). University of Manchester. Chair: Dr Tristan Borchers
 17:15-18:00 Title: Mechanochemistry: An Emerging Transformative Technology in Synthetic and Medicinal Chemistry.
Professor Xiaofeng Wei (pdf), Xi’an Jiaotong University. Chair: Dr Tristan Borchers.
 18:00-18:45 Title: Mechanochemistry of topological molecules. Professor Min Zhang (pdf), East China Normal University.
Chair: Dr Tristan Borchers.
 19:30 Onwards Drinks reception and dinner at the 1900 Restaurant, Edgbaston Park Hotel
Day 2
  Biosciences 301 onwards until the morning tea break
09:00-09:45  Title: TBC. Professor Ka-King Yan, ShanghaiTech University. Chair: Dr Adam Michalchuk
09:45-10:30  Title: Dehydrogenative and Hydrogenative Catalysis for the synthesis and recycling of polymers. Dr Amit Kumar (pdf), University of St Andrews. Chair: Dr Adam Michalchuk
 10:30-11:00  Tea break (Molecular Sciences Building Foyer)
  Biosciences 301 onwards until lunch
 11:00-11:45 Title: Anion-encapsulating sodium alkoxide clusters (X@RONa). Professor Zhi Li (pdf), ShanghaiTech University.

Chair: Dr Nathan Davison.
 11:45-12:30 Title: TBC. Professor Rui Shang, University of Tokyo. Chair: Dr Nathan Davison.
 12:30-13:30 Lunch (Molecular Sciences Building Foyer)
 

Biosciences 301
 13:30-14:15

Title: TBC. Professor Tom Hasell (pdf), University of Liverpool. Chair: Dr Nathan Davison.
14:15-15:00

Title: In full flow: Polymer mechanochemistry in processing. Dr Nimah Fox (pdf), University of Manchester. Chair: Dr Nathan Davison.
 15:00-15:45

Title: Pushing the Limits: Evolving Twin-Screw Extrusion for Next-Gen Mechanochemical Processing. Dr Deborah Crawford (pdf), University of Birmingham. Chair: Dr Nathan Davison.
 15:45-16:30

Title: TBC. Dr Adam Michalchuk, University of Birmingham. Chair: Dr Nathan Davison.
 16:30-16:40

Closing remark. Dr Erli Lu, University of Birmingham. Chair: Dr Nathan Davison.

Travel and Accommodation

The symposium will be held at the University of Birmingham campus in Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK. The campus is located just south of the city and is readily accessible by Train (using the University train station which is less than 10 minutes from the main station Birmingham New Street).

Birmingham is readily accessible by rail (Birmingham  New Street, Moor Street, Snow Hill stations are all central), air (from Birmingham Airport BHX, or via London airports), or road. See Getting here - Edgbaston Campus.

Accommodation can be found on campus at the Hotel or in the surrounding area. Hotels in the city centre are readily accessible as it is only a few minutes by train from the University to either Five Ways or New Street (trains run regularly).