Our "Microbial Electrolysis Cell" workshop will be held on 19 Sep 16 at the Durham County Cricket Club. The University of Newcastle's Prof Tom Curtis hosts this workshop which explores MECs and associated bio-electrochemical processes and is followed by a visit to their MEC water treatment pilot. With our next Proof of Concept Call due to be launched soon after, this is a great chance to mingle and hone your ideas. Registration closes 2 Sep 16. The registration form is here or online registration can be found here. .
AD Network Early Career Researcher Event & Winners
Congratulations to the winners at our Early Career researcher Conference 2016. Photos are available on the website.. This was a really informative event in relaxed surroundings, attended by over 40 people from 19 institutions. Building on last year’s foundations, we saw people graduate from posters to presentations as well as welcoming a large number of new faces.
Winner of the overall best presentation wasDr Matthew Reilly, Harper Adams University with his work on “Biohydrogen and biomethane production from wheat straw”. Thank you to The Biochemical Society for their prize of a year’s membership.
Winner of the best poster was Dr Sarah Martin, University of Nottingham with her work on the “Effect of feedstock on the nutritional quality of digestates and implications for crop yield and quality”. Thank you to the Anaerobic Digestion Bioresources Association for their prize of a year’s free membership.
The other winners were: Posters:
Dr Iain Michie, University of South Wales, "Production of phyto active compounds in anaerobic digestion digestates"
Mr William Hawley, University of Nottingham, "Veterinary pharmaceuticals as contaminants of anaerobic digestion feedstock: Effects on biogas yield and quality"
Presentations:
Dr Alba Serna-Maza, University of Southampton, "Ambient temperature anaerobic digestion of low-strength dairy wastewater in membrane bioreactors"
Dr Craig Dolder, University of Southampton, "Uses of ultrasonics in anaerobic digesters"
Dr Caitlin Burns, NNFCC Bioeconomy Consultancy. "Feedstock analysis of the AD industry in the UK"
Mr Julian Pietrzyk, University of Edinburgh, "Use of Microbial Consortia for Conversion of Biomass Pyrolysis Liquids into Value-Added Products under Aerobic and Anaerobic Conditions"
Attendee Donna Udall from Coventry University said” It was a really interesting and well run event. There was absolutely no way I could have quickly understood the depth and breadth of current research in digestate through any other vehicle. For me, running two projects and a PhD, this kind of intensive learning event is critical.”
Newcastle University's Dr Lynsay Blake concurred, “The AD network ECR event was a fantastic supportive environment to discuss my research and learn about other research. It was a place where I think we all felt free to discuss ideas for the future.”
Funding and more
ECR Travel Vouchers: Do you know an Early Career Researcher presenting at the Biogas Science Conference, Hungary in August? The AD Network has £1,500 Travel Bursaries available to assist ECRs with costs towards this and other relevant overseas AD Conferences. As well as Biogas Science, conferences which qualify include AD15 (the IWA 15th World Congress on Anaerobic Digestion, Beijing, China, 2017) and EUBCE 2017 (European Conference and exhibition on Biomass. Bear us in mind if you intend to present your scientific findings. Scope out our website for details.
Apply for our next BIV round which closes on 30 Sep 16. See our Funding Page for more information.
Are you moving towards commercial projects/processes? Take a look at the SuperBio website for opportunities in Europe. SuperBIO is a Horizon2020 innovation project that aims to develop and support at least 10 new, innovative, cross-border and cross-sectorial industrial value chains in the bio-based economy. Applications open until 31st July 2018. See: www.gbev.org/en/what-does-gbev-do/technological-innovation/superbio
Apply now for CO2Chem Seedcorn Funding (join CO2Chem at www.co2chem.org.uk ). CO2Chem Seedcorn grants give funding for pump-priming investigations which will lead to a grant proposal and ideally a research paper. All applications should demonstrate a clear pathway for this to be achieved. Grants must be led by a UK University but collaboration with industry is encouraged.The maximum grant size is £8000. The funding comes directly from CO2Chem. Funding can be spent on salaries and equipment/resources costs. For 2016/2017 there are seven grants of up to £8000 available for work to be done between Oct 2016- April 2017. Closing date - August 31st 2016.
UK AD & Biogas 2016 R&I Hub
This year, a comprehensive line-up of expert speakers from universities and businesses across the country covered an extensive range of topics from process optimisation to platform chemical extraction and novel uses of membranes. The newly-introduced 'networking lunches' provided an excellent opportunity for participants to chat informally. This year, speakers admirably rose to the challenge of and asking participants to minimise the use of Powerpoint and to use interesting props. See our website and the ADBA website to view some of the props - and the speakers.
The AD Network looks forward to being part of next years' programme. We will miss Derek Pedley and Lis Broome, our wonderful KTN associates who have helped with all aspects of R&I since the AD Network was established and wish them best of luck in the future.
Upcoming Events
OpenPlant Forum and Industry-Academia Networking Event
John Innes Conference Centre, Norwich, 25th - 27th July 2016
The OpenPlant Forum is the annual meeting of the BBSRC-EPSRC funded OpenPlant Synthetic Biology Research Centre. Funded under the Synthetic Biology for Growth programme, the Centre promotes interdisciplinary exchange, open technologies for innovation and responsible innovation for sustainable agriculture and biotechnology. See http://openplant.org/openplantforum/
Are you planning a fun day out this summer? You can find the AD Network sponsored bioenergy outreach stall at the Countryfile Live event on August 4-7. See the mobile PV-powered anaerobic digester in action! This is a fun public event co-hosted by the BBC Countryfile TV show and the National Trust. This event is at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire. See the Countryfile Live webpage: www.countryfilelive.com/
PHYCONET Annual Conference 2016
CPI, Redcar, 1/2nd September
The PHYCONET Annual Conference, kindly hosted by the Centre for Process Innovation, for presentations of PHYCONET-funded BIV & PoC projects and current commercial applications of microalgae, and information on algae facilities in the UK. See Phyconet website for details.
BioProNET: early career research event 2016
Brighton Mercure Seafront Hotel, 6/7th September
This is designed to empower the impact of your research and future career choices. Join C1Net or BioProNET to register for this free event. See http://biopronetuk.org/category/early-careers/ for further details.
Biogas for the future – towards a sustainable and efficient supply chain
Linköping, Sweden – 7 & 8 September 2016
The Call for papers is now closed but you can still attend if you register by 26th August. See http://www.atbest.eu/Conference/ .
European Biosolids & Organic Resources Conference/AquaEnviro
Edinburgh International Conference Centre, 15/16 November 2016. More information on their website.
The European Forum for Industrial Biotechnology and the Bioeconomy
Glasgow 18-20 October 2016
See http://www.efibforum.com/
