The QUILL Research Centre proudly celebrated 25 years of groundbreaking research and innovation in sustainable chemistry with a special edition of its Industrial Advisory Board (IAB) Meeting, held in Autumn 2024 as a two-day mini-conference. The event brought together researchers, students, alumni, and industry partners to commemorate the Centre’s legacy and spotlight its continued contributions to the global sustainability agenda.

Jointly hosted with the Molten Salts and Ionic Liquids Discussion Group (MSILDG), the celebration served as both a scientific forum and a reunion—recognising QUILL’s unique role as a pioneer in ionic liquids and green chemistry, and as a collaborative hub linking academia and industry.

A Conference Format to Honour 25 Years of QUILL

This year’s IAB meeting was reimagined as a full-scale conference, combining scientific depth with celebration. Over the course of two full days, attendees participated in keynote lectures delivered by internationally recognised leaders in green chemistry, ionic liquids, and deep eutectic solvents. The programme also featured presentations by QUILL’s students and early-career researchers from different institutions, who showcased cutting-edge research across a wide range of applications for ionic liquids and molten salts.

Each session were introduced by our keynote speaker Margarida Costa Gomes, David Mecerreyes and Agi Brand-Talbot. The Meeting ended on day two with the eminent Fray Lecture presented by Andy Abbott.

A vibrant poster session filled the conference space with discussion and exchange, as students presented over 32 posters. 

Informal networking opportunities, along with structured sessions, created space for connections between generations of researchers—from current PhD students to seasoned professionals and alumni. A dedicated reflective session looked back on QUILL’s founding in 1999 and traced its growth into a globally recognised centre of excellence.

The all event was captured by a photograph and all pictures are available here.

Honoured Guests: QUILL Alumni Return

A particularly memorable element of the conference was the participation of several QUILL alumni, who returned to Belfast to celebrate the Centre’s 25-year legacy. Among them were Dr. Alberto Puga, Dr. Gabriela Adamova, Dr. Hector Rodrigues, and Dr. Julien Estager offering inspiration to current students and reinforcing the strong global community that has grown around the Centre. Their reflections and contributions added a personal and professional richness to the anniversary celebration.

Sponsors and Supporters

The event was made possible through the generous support of our sponsors, who also participated with awards to recognise student excellence:

• Anton Paar – Sponsor of the Anton Paar Keynote delivered by Prof. Margarida Costa Gomes
• Mason Technology – Sponsored the price for one Oral Presentation Award and 2 Poster Awards
• RSC Sustainable Chemistry – Sponsored the price for one Oral Presentation Award and 1 Poster Award
• Agilent and SciMed – Event supporters

These partnerships reflect the strong ties between QUILL and supplier’s support that have been essential for the research conducted in QUILL, instrumental to the valuable bridges between academic research and industrial applications.

Recognising Student Excellence

Student contributions were at the heart of the conference, and joined by a vast range of speakers from all places and their efforts were celebrated through a series of awards presented throughout the conference and during the final day:

• Anton Paar Keynote (sponsored by Anton Paar): Prof. Margarida Costa Gomes (ENS Lyon)
• Fray Lecture (sponsored by RSC Sustainability): Prof. Andy Abbott (Leicester University)
• Best Oral Presentation (sponsored by Mason Technology): Coby J Clarke (Nottingham University)
• Best Oral Presentation Award (sponsored by RSC Sustainable Chemistry): Christian Balischewski (Potsdam University)
• Best Poster Award (Sponsored by Mason Technology): Laura Laimina (University of Latvia)
• Best Poster Award (Sponsored by Mason Technology): Aloisia King (QUILL)
• Best Poster Award (Sponsored by RSC Sustainability): Oguzhan Cakir (QUILL)

Competition was hard but these awards recognised not only scientific excellence, but also the communication skills and active engagement that are essential in today’s collaborative research environment.

Industry Engagement and IAB Support

QUILL was also pleased to welcome the members of its Industrial Advisory Board, including Peter Klusener, Scott Place, Fergal Coleman, Geetha Srinivasan, and Paul Davey. Their participation throughout the event—attending presentations, engaging with students, and providing expert feedback—was invaluable. Their continued support and guidance played a key role in shaping QUILL’s strategic direction and in ensuring the relevance of its research to real-world industrial challenges.

Looking Ahead: The Future of QUILL

The 25th Anniversary Celebration was more than a commemoration—it was a powerful affirmation of the community, collaboration, and vision that continue to drive QUILL forward. As we look to the future, QUILL remains committed to its mission: advancing cutting-edge research in green chemistry and ionic liquids, nurturing the next generation of scientists, and deepening partnerships across academia and industry.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all alumni, sponsors, students, IAB members, and staff who contributed to making the QUILL Autumn 2024 IAB Meeting and Anniversary Conference a resounding success.