Boron Team Gathers for Third Annual Meeting
Boron Team Gathers for Third Annual Meeting
At the beginning of June, researchers, collaborators and the advisory board from the Boron: Beyond the Reagent EPSRC Programme Grant gathered for their annual meeting at The Burn - Goodenough College’s Scottish retreat in Aberdeenshire.
The Boron: Beyond the Reagent annual meeting ran in parallel with an RSC funded Boron PhD Student Knowledge Exchange and Collaboration Networking Meeting organised and led by Daniela Rocha and Masha Mazhuga of the Morris and Watson research groups at St Andrews.
PhD students and PDRAs gave short but informative insights into their individual research projects and the transferable skills that they have gained along the way. The variety and quality of research on display from across the programme was impressive and stimulated many engaging conversations during the non-structured portions of the meeting.
PhD student led problem solving sessions also took place where researchers were able to bring research problems to the group in an informal chalk and talk setting to gain insights and different perspectives on challenges they were facing, and generate ideas for collaborating in new areas. Teambuilding activities, including an exciting game of ‘Traitors’, helped to foster a sense of belonging within the group and integrate new members and collaborators.
A Plenary lecture was given by Prof Cathleen Crudden, Queens University Canada, chair of the Advisory Board. Prof Crudden’s talk was, as usual, deeply impressive in both the breadth and depth of topics covered, ranging from boron to N-heterocyclic carbenes and nanoclusters. Researchers also benefitted from the insights of Prof Matthias Wagner, Goethe-University Frankfurt/Main, a world expert in synthesis and application of organoboron compunds, and a member of the advisory board attending the meeting.
The Burn was the ideal location for the group to enjoy the outdoors during free time. Delegates enjoyed walks through The Burn Estate, as well as the surrounding area along the River North Esk and Rocks of Solitude, spotting red squirrels and enduring the unpredictability of the Scottish weather.
The event as a whole was informative and inspiring, bringing together the Boron community across the Programme Grant and strengthening collaborations. Researchers have already made plans to meet and collaborate on new areas of Boron chemistry and we look forward to hearing about the outcomes at future meetings.
