Advances in supramolecular gels Faraday Discussion

Introduction

Welcome

Join us in Glasgow in May 2025 for this edition of the Faraday Discussion series. The Faraday Discussions are unique international discussion meetings that address current and emerging topics at the forefront of the physical sciences.

This meeting is for established and early-career scientists, postgraduate students and industrial researchers working on various aspects of supramolecular gels. It will provide an ideal forum for cross-fertilisation of ideas and understanding between the distinct but adjacent communities working in this exciting field. On behalf of the organising committee, we look forward to welcoming you to Glasgow.

Why attend?

Find out more about Faraday Discussions in the video and FAQs 鈥� see Useful links on the right.

A unique conference format that prioritises discussion
At a Faraday Discussion, the primary research papers written by the speakers are distributed to all participants before the meeting 鈥� ensuring that most of the meeting is devoted to discussing the latest research.

This provides a genuinely collaborative environment, where discussion and debate are at the foreground. All delegates, not just speakers, are invited to make comments, ask questions, or present complementary or contradictory measurements and calculations.

An exciting programme of talks 鈥� and more
Take part in a well-balanced mix of talks, discussion, poster sessions and informal networking, delivered by our expert events team. You can explore the full programme in the downloadable files on the right 鈥� whether you鈥檙e attending in-person or online, every minute provides an opportunity.

The conference dinner, included in the registration fee, contains the Marlow Cup ceremony: a unique commemoration of past Faraday Discussion organisers that is sure to encourage further discussions over dinner.

In-depth discussion with leaders in the field
World-leading and established researchers connect with each other and early-career scientists and postgraduate students to discuss the latest research and drive science forwards. It鈥檚 a unique atmosphere 鈥� and challenging others to get to the heart of the problem is encouraged!

Your contributions, published and citable
A citable record of the discussion is published in the Faraday Discussions journal, alongside the research papers. Questions, comments and remarks become a valuable part of the published scientific conversation, and every delegate can make a major contribution.

Discover Glasgow
The Discussion will take place in Glasgow. Step out to explore the city while you鈥檙e here 鈥� or stay a few extra days to explore the city further and the surrounding area.

Themes

Our ability to make soft materials based on the fundamental principles of self-assembly has led to a rich and varied global interdisciplinary community, particularly in the area of functional supramolecular gels. These gels are formed by the self-assembly of small molecules into one dimensional structures that entangle to form a network. Their applications are broad; gels have been shown to be of value in the life sciences in 3D cell culture, with a number of recent spin-out companies focused in this area but also have promise as new optoelectronic materials. The inherent interdisciplinarity of the field provides opportunities for chemists, physicists, biologists and engineers to work together, but also raises a number of challenges. Exciting new developments are opening up in transient and dynamic gels, and in the techniques used to study these systems 鈥� in particular contrast-matched small-angle scattering, cryo-TEM, and super-resolution microscopy. The four themes of this meeting will bring together different research communities and particular emphasis will be placed upon the transfer of learning between the different themes.

Design of gelling systems
Design of gelling systems is currently mainly a result of trial-and-error iteration around known structures or fortuitous discovery. We will bring together computational and experimentalists to discuss approaches to solving this. This session will explore and contrast effective approaches to gelator design (both experimental and computational), discuss how these approaches can be used to design the material properties of the resulting gels and what data are needed to inform these approaches.

Characterising supramolecular gels
Characterising supramolecular gels requires understanding across multiple length scales with all techniques used having advantages and disadvantages. To move forward, we need to be able to effectively combine multiple techniques. Recent innovations such as the use of superresolution microscopy have real potential but are not yet routinely applied to gels and there are real opportunities using more detailed cryo-TEM experiments. This session will bring together those inside and outside the community to spark ideas and drive new concepts.

Multicomponent systems
Multicomponent systems are a major potential step forward 鈥� here, we refer to combining gelling systems or mixing a gelling system with an additive. Both cases add significant complexity in terms of understanding but many opportunities that are not available with single component gels. The key discussion points in this session will be designing multicomponent systems, understanding and characterising all of the possibilities, and developing a language to describe these systems.

Using supramolecular gels
Designing gels for applications is difficult as it requires control of properties over many length scales as well as understanding of processing kinetically trapped materials. This session will also include aspects such as gels that change with time and how these can be used as well as 3D printing of gels. The key discussion points will be understanding how to control properties so that the gels can used for specific applications, with a focus on how to link measured properties to specific applications. Here, we aim to bring together users of gels for applications such as drug delivery, tissue culturing, optoelectronics etc. with those who are more focussed on preparing and characterising materials.

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Faraday Discussion meetings FAQs Find out more about these unique meetings

Downloads

Draft programme

Speakers

Emily Draper, University of Glasgow , United Kingdom

Professor Emily Draper is currently UKRI Future Leader Fellow within the School of Chemistry at the University of Glasgow, UK. She received her PhD from the University of Liverpool before carrying out a Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship at Glasgow. Her research interests include the controlled assembly of small organic molecules into functional materials for chromic displays, mechanoresponsive thin films and alternative cell growth media. She focuses on the use of small-angle scattering, rheology and electrochemistry to characterise these materials. Her other research interests lie within the retention and promotion underrepresented groups within the supramolecular community.

Silvia Marchesan, University of Trieste, Italy

Professor Silvia Marchesan leads the Superstructures Labs at the University of Trieste (Italy), where a team of enthusiastic researchers focusses on the design of supramolecular systems and gels in green solvents, such as water and acetonitrile, for various applications spanning from health to catalysis, through multidisciplinary and collaborative projects. One of the key expertise within the group pertains the design of minimalistic peptides, whereby amino acid chirality plays a key role in their assembling ability and properties. She is a member of the editorial board of ACS Nano, and of the Advisory board of Chem, Soft Matter, ChemComm, J. Mater. Chem. B, ACS Appl. Bio Mater. and other materials journals. She received several awards, including the 欧美AV Soft Matter Lectureship in 2021.

Aline Miller, University of Manchester, United Kingdom

Aline is Professor of Biomolecular Engineering in the School of Engineering and Associate Dean for Business Engagement and Innovation within the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the University of Manchester. She is Director of the NW Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Catalyst – a £5m flagship programme supercharging the growth of careers, business and our regional economy, while delivering a low carbon economy – and Academic Innovation Lead for Innovation District Manchester and the new University of Manchester Innovation Academy.

She studied Chemistry at Strathclyde University and carried out her PhD research at Durham University, followed by postdoctoral work in the Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge University where she held a Junior Research Fellowship with Murray Edwards College. In 2002, she joined Manchester and was promoted to Chair in 2014. In her role she has led academic and commercial R&D teams working at the life-science interface where her research interests converge on understanding the self-assembly of peptides, proteins and polymers across the length scales for material design and application. This work has led to several academic awards, including recognition from the Royal Academy of Engineering, Women in Engineering, The Leverhulme Trust and Great British Entrepreneur Awards. She has a strong track record of raising funds and translating academic research into the commercial and clinical setting through industrial collaboration with a range of industrial partners from SMEs to corporates, and through establishing a spin out company, Manchester BIOGEL. Under her leadership the company raised £4M+ in investment from Innovate UK, Venture Capital, Private and Catapult Venture Funds, grew to a team of 10 and became revenue generating. This led to Manchester BIOGEL being listed as one of the Top 10 BioTech Start-Ups in Europe by Start-Up City in 2021, winning Best New Life Science Product 2021 and navigating a successful exit, with the company technology being sold onto Cell Guidance Systems in 2023.

Aline is also Elected Trustee of the 欧美AV, Trustee of The Humane Research Trust, Member of the Industrial Committee for the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) and Director of the Bio-Based and Biodegradable Industries Association (BBIA).

Meital Reches, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

Meital Reches is a Full Professor at the Institute of Chemistry and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. After completing her Ph.D. studies at Tel Aviv University in 2007 and spending three years as an EMBO and an HFSP postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard University, Prof. Reches established her independent research group at the Hebrew University in 2010.
Research in the Reches group focuses on understanding the interactions of biological entities such as proteins, bacteria, viruses, and cells with surfaces. In addition, her group develops peptide-based coatings to control these interactions.
For her innovations, Prof. Reches was awarded with the Marie Currie Alumni Association Best Innovator Award, the Kaye Award and the Tenne Family Prize in Nanoscale Sciences.

Tell Tuttle, University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom

Tell Tuttle's research is focused on the concept of "reducing molecular search spaces" - a phrase that was coined in the group. The group works closely with experimental colleagues to address practical problems in the areas of molecular structure (development of new materials), molecular recognition (drug design), molecular reactivity (new catalysts and new paradigms in organic reaction mechanisms) and molecular properties (development of organic photovoltaics). The understanding derived from the computational and theoretical methods employed in our research results in the generation of predictive models that are used to design molecular-based solutions to a range of problems from chemistry to biomedicine to nanotechnology to organic electronics.

Darrin Pochan (Introductory lecture) University of Delaware, United States
Thorri Gunlauggson (Closing remarks lecture) Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
Vince Conticello Emory University, United States
Karen Edler Lund University, Sweden
Julia Ortony University of California, San Diego, United States

Abstract submission

Oral abstracts

Oral abstract submission is now closed.
Submit an oral/paper abstract if you wish to be considered for an oral presentation and associated published paper. A full research paper containing new unpublished results always accompanies oral presentations at Faraday Discussions. The oral/paper abstract should outline current research in progress. Authors of the selected abstracts must then submit a full research paper with a significant amount of new, unpublished work, by 9 December 2024.

The research papers are reviewed upon submission and are sent to all delegates 4 weeks before the meeting so they can be read in advance. At the meeting the presenting author is allowed five minutes to highlight the main points of their paper, and the rest of the time is for discussion. The discussion is recorded and will be published alongside the research paper in the Faraday Discussions volume.

Poster abstracts

Submit a poster abstract by 17 February 2025. Posters are displayed throughout the meeting and a poster session is held on the first evening. A poster prize will be awarded to the best student poster presented at the conference.

Additional information

All oral and poster abstracts will be reviewed by the committee. Authors will be notified of the outcome of the review process within about 6 weeks of the submission deadline. The abstracts should be no longer than one A4 page in portrait layout. Please ensure you provide the details of the presenting author and indicate whether you are submitting an abstract for oral or poster presentation.

Deadlines

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Registration

In-person registration includes:

Attendance at all scientific sessions
Attendance at the poster session
Refreshments throughout the meeting and lunch on all three days
Attendance at the poster drinks reception on 30 April
Attendance at the conference dinner on 1 May
Access to all journal paper PDF “pre-prints” before the meeting
Access to recordings of all scientific sessions post-event
For full paying delegates, a copy of the Faraday Discussions journal volume, issued approximately 5 months after the meeting, containing all papers presented at the meeting and accompanying discussion comments. Student delegates may purchase a copy of the volume at less than half price, during the registration process or on site at the meeting.

Please note accommodation is not included in the registration fee.

All prices quoted do not include VAT, which is added during registration at the prevailing rate in the UK

	Early bird	Standard
Non-member	£545+VAT	£595+VAT
欧美AV member	£435+VAT	£485+VAT
Student non-member	£265+VAT	£315+VAT
Student 欧美AV member	£215+VAT	£265+VAT
Accommpanying person	£125+VAT	£125+VAT

Virtual registration includes:鈥�

Live access to all scientific sessions
Access to all journal paper PDF “pre-prints” before the meeting
Access to recordings of all scientific sessions post-event

All prices quoted do not include VAT, which is added during registration at the prevailing rate in the UK

	Standard
Non-member	£155+VAT
欧美AV member	£130+VAT
Student non-member	£95+VAT
Student 欧美AV member	£70+VAT

A copy of the Faraday Discussions journal volume containing papers presented at the Discussion (issued approximately 5 months after the meeting) is not included in the virtual registration fee. Delegates may purchase a copy of the volume at less than half price, during the registration process or on site at the meeting.

欧美AV members and student 欧美AV members

If you are a 欧美AV member and wish to register for this meeting, please select the member option on the online registration page. You will need to enter your membership number.

Non-member and student non-members

For non-member registrants, affiliate membership of the 欧美AV until the end of 2025 is available. The affiliate membership application will be processed and commence once the registrant has attended the event.

Student delegates

In order to encourage undergraduate or postgraduate students to attend the Discussion, a reduced conference fee is available for students. This fee applies to those undertaking a full-time course for a recognised degree or a diploma at a university or equivalent institution.

A copy of the Faraday Discussions journal volume containing papers presented at the Discussion (issued approximately 5 months after the meeting) is not included in the student registration fee. Students may purchase a copy of the volume at less than half price, during the registration process or on site at the meeting.

Accompanying person

If you would like to bring a guest to the conference, this can be done during the registration process. There will be an additional charge, which will include all lunches, refreshments and the conference dinner. The fee does not include attendance at any scientific sessions, journal paper pre-prints or the journal volume.

Accessibility

The 欧美AV is keen to encourage and enable as many people as possible to attend our events, to benefit from the networking opportunities and the chance to hear talks from leaders in the field. If you would like to discuss accessibility, or have childcare, caring responsibilities or other care needs, please contact us to discuss your requirements so that we can enable your attendance. Please refer also to our Grants for Carers fund; for more information please see the ‘bursaries’ section on this page.

Terms and Conditions for Events run by the 欧美AV

Deadlines

Bursaries

Grants for Carers

With our Grants for carers, you can apply for up to £1,200 per year to help you attend a chemistry-related meeting, conference or workshop or a professional development event. This money would be used to cover any additional costs you incur, paying for care that you usually provide. Please visit the website for further information and eligibility criteria.

Accessibility Grants

With our Accessibility grants, you can apply for up to £1,200 per year to help with the cost of specific support to attend a chemistry-related meeting, conference, workshop or professional development event. This support might be any form of equipment, service, or other personal expense associated with meeting your access needs.

Researcher Development and Travel Grants

If you are an 欧美AV member and you are one of the following:

a PhD student actively undertaking a PhD course in the chemical sciences;
a researcher in the chemical sciences (including post docs, research technicians and research assistants);
working in academia, industry or any sector;
within 10 years of leaving full time education (at the time of the application deadline).

You can apply for up to £500 to support your participation in this event. Please note it is not necessary to have confirmation of abstract acceptance before applying for a Researcher Development and Travel Grants and we encourage you to apply as early as possible.

Please see the website for up-to-date information on eligibility, how to apply and submission deadlines.

Researcher Development and Travel Grants can be applied for in addition to Grants for Carers and Accessibility Grants.

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Sponsorship & supporting organisations

A selection of sponsorship opportunities is available for companies who would like to promote their activities at the 2025 Faraday Discussion series.

If you would like more information about sponsoring the 2025 Faraday Discussion series, please contact the Commercial Sales Department at the 欧美AV on advertising@rsc.org Sponsorship menu

Venue

Technology & Innovation Centre

Technology & Innovation Centre, 99 George Street, Glasgow, G1 1RD, United Kingdom

Glasgow is in west central Scotland. It’s Scotland’s largest city and is easily accessible from the rest of the UK and overseas by train, sea, road and air.

Travel

By train: Glasgow is well connected by train from across the UK by the following main stations:

Glasgow Central Station links Glasgow to the south
Glasgow Queen Street Station operates routes mainly to Edinburgh and the north

By sea: You can travel to Scotland by ferry from the major ports of Belfast and Larne in Northern Ireland. Ferries dock at Cairnryan in the southwest of Scotland, with a bus service taking passengers to the city centre in 2 hours 10 minutes.

You can also travel from mainland Europe. You can arrive in either:

Hull in the northeast of England where it's around a 4 hours drive to the Scottish border.
Newcastle, which is around a 2 hours 40 minutes drive from Glasgow.

By car: Scotland has an extensive motorway road network. Glasgow is linked to the following places:

Edinburgh with the M8
England on either the A1, M6 or M74
Stirling with the M80
West coast of Scotland with the M77

By air: Glasgow has 3 international airports nearby, with connections across the UK and the world:

Glasgow Airport is the closest airport to the city centre. Catch the express bus service from outside the terminal and arrive in Glasgow in around 15 minutes. Visit glasgowairport.com for more information.
Glasgow Prestwick Airport is 32 miles (51km) from Glasgow. It is very accessible with train and bus services to the city centre. Find out more at glasgowprestwick.com.
Edinburgh Airport is 39 miles (63km) from Glasgow. There is a direct bus service from the airport to Glasgow’s Buchanan Bus Station which takes around 1 hour. Head to edinburghairport.com for more information

There are regular trains between Manchester Airport and Glasgow Central. The average journey time of 3 hours and 45 minutes.

Many London airports fly directly to Glasgow Airport including London City, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton and London Stanstead. If you cannot get a direct flight to Glasgow or Edinburgh, London Heathrow is the most common airport for international travellers.

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Committee

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Contact information

欧美AV

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