David Palomas

Thank you, Dr. @davidpalomas.bsky.social for publishing in our journal!

As a recently published article, it has already achieved a notable Altmetric score, reflecting strong interest and engagement from the community.

Check out the article here: www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejo...

ViCEPHEC2026 Proudly hosted by the University of Nottingham

**ALERT** The #ViCEPHEC26 website is now live! vicephec2026.wordpress.com

Abstract submission will open soon, with satellite meetings on Weds Aug 26th and the conference opening on Thursday Aug 27th.

#chemsky #compchemsky

#ChemSky 🧪

Want to join? Give me a nudge 😀

✅ Adopt protocols in your lab
✅ Share new applications
✅ Co-create with students

Let’s embed sustainability in chemical education together!
#SustainableChemistry #OpenScience #GreenChemistry #CircularEconomy #ChemEd #RECOMPENSEProject

YouTube video by RECOMPENSE project Synthesis of Biofuel precursor with a Polystyrene sulfonic acid resin from waste Polystyrene

u-PSSA catalyzes Friedel–Crafts reactions with biobased substrates → quantitative yields of a biodiesel precursor under mild conditions.

Waste → Catalyst → Renewable fuel precursor. That’s circular chemistry in action. 🌱

www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2Lq...

RECOMPENSE project The RECOMPENSE project addresses the challenge of recycling polystyrene (PS) waste generated in laboratories, which contributes significantly to global plastic pollution. With only 1% of PS being recy...

What makes this special?

👩‍🎓 Co-created with MSc students at @uclchemistry.bsky.social
📚 Builds practical skills + systems thinking
🌍 Open science resources for global classrooms
Students aren’t just learning. They are co-authors of solutions.

▶️ Videos: www.youtube.com/@RECOMPENSEp...

RECOMPENSE Project An Open Science platform for DIY protocols to use upcycled Polystyrene waste in Organic Synthesis

What is RECOMPENSE?

RECOMPENSE = REcyclable Catalysts frOM PolystyrENe waStE

✅ Turns single-use PS lab waste into polystyrene sulfonic acid (u-PSSA)
✅ Works as a heterogeneous acid catalyst for organic synthesis
✅ Accessible, low-cost protocols for teaching labs

🌐 Explore: recompenseproject.com

RECOMPENSE: A Student-Led Open Science Initiative for Sustainable Polystyrene Waste Upcycling in Academic Labs Plastic waste is a global challenge, with polystyrene (PS) among the least recycled polymers despite its widespread use in laboratories. Conventional recycling routes for PS remain economically and te...

♻️🔬 From lab waste to catalysts and co-created learning!

We just shared our new preprint on RECOMPENSE, a student-led open science initiative that upcycles polystyrene waste into reusable catalysts for green chemistry.

📄 Read here: chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr...

#GreenChemistry #ChemEd

⏰ Final reminder of 2025! As we head towards the end of the year, we invite you to join us at Royal Holloway to shape conversations around the future of STEM teaching and learning during the Horizons in STEM HE 2026 conference (24-25th June). Abstracts now open!

ukstemconference.com

#UKSTEMConf26

Awesome news! 🎉 A student startup model tackling sustainable chemistry is a game changer! 🧪💚 Innovation in education drives real-world impact. Keep pushing boundaries! #ChemEd #Innovation

Congrats on the article acceptance! 🎉 Problem-based learning in sustainable chemistry is a game-changer. Innovating education with real-world applications? Smart move! 🚀 #ChemEd #Innovation

This PBL startup framework shows how chemistry education can prepare students for real-world sustainability challenges. We hope it inspires wider adoption across institutions.

📖 Full open-access article

#SustainableChemistry #CircularEconomy #GreenChemistry #ChemED #ProblemBasedLearning

✨ What we found:

- High student engagement in pilot cohorts
- Strong performance: majority achieved Distinction grades
- Graduates pursued sustainability-focused careers, from industry to consultancy
- The model is flexible, scalable, and adaptable to other sustainability challenges

Key roles students explored:

🔬 Research Scientist – design synthetic routes
🌱 Sustainability Officer – evaluate biomass & green metrics
🧪 Quality Control Analyst – test product/process quality
📊 Marketing Analyst – explore markets & applications
⚖️ Patent Attorney – ensure originality & ethics

We built a student startup model 💡

- Students form “companies”
- Academics act as CEOs/CSOs
- Postgraduate Teaching Assistants serve as Project Managers
- Learners adopt professional roles inspired by real job ads

This structure mirrors industry practice and boosts career awareness.

Why this work? 🌍

Chemistry education must evolve to meet sustainability challenges. We wanted to design a teaching model that:

- Embeds circular economy principles
- Connects theory with real-world career skills
- Engages students through active, problem-based learning

Exciting news! Our article “Problem-Based Learning in Sustainable Chemistry: A Student Startup Model with PET as a Case Study” (with Buse Sonmez) has been accepted in @suscircnow.bsky.social.

#ChemEd #SustainableChemistry #GreenChemistry #GreenChemistryEducation #ChemSky

We are delighted to announce that abstract submission for the Horizons in STEM HE 2026 is now open!

To submit an abstract, please visit the website here: ukstemconference.com. The deadline is 6th February 2026.
 
We look forward to receiving your submissions!
 
#UKSTEMConf26 #RoyalHolloway

#chemsky #compchem #compchemsky

UCL200 to launch with a spectacular sound and light experience: Save the date to celebrate together! The countdown has officially begun! Save the date for UCL Illuminated – a spectacular sound and light experience that will kick off our bicentennial celebrations from 11-13 February 2026.

UCL200 to launch with a spectacular sound and light experience! 💫

We can’t wait to welcome students, staff, alumni and our wider community and launching a year of celebrations for our 200th birthday!

📅11-13 February 2026.

Find out more: https://bit.ly/439g5Kk

Contact We are always interested in hearing from anyone interested in collaborating or contributing to the project. Please give David a nudge. Dr David Palomas Email: d.palomas@ucl.ac.uk Department of Chem…

📢 We’re excited to connect with educators, researchers, and sustainability advocates who want to explore or expand the use of these resins.

💬 Got feedback, ideas, or want to collaborate? We’d love to hear from you!

recompenseproject.com/contact/

Synthesis of Biofuel precursor with a Polystyrene sulfonic acid resin from waste Polystyrene Having optimised a reproducible process for preparing Polystyrene Sulfonic Acid (PSSA) from waste Polystyrene (PS), we were keen to test its catalytic activity. The sample shown in the video has a …

And a lab-scale application to prepare a precursor of biodiesel

Synthesis of Polystyrene Sulfonic Acid from waste expanded Polystyrene Polystyrene sulfonic acid (PSSA) resins are commercially available and can be synthesised from polystyrene (PS) via direct sulfonation, a classic textbook reaction familiar to many chemistry studen…

We have already developed a robust and user-friendly protocol to upcycle Polystyrene waste from our teaching labs at UCLEast

🌱 This initiative promotes #sustainablechemistry by:

Reducing polystyrene waste
Encouraging innovative reuse in research
Bridging education and green chemistry practices

Introducing the RECOMPENSE project! Laboratory Polystyrene (PS) waste in the context of plastic pollution Plastics are everywhere in our society, playing important roles in fields ranging from medicine and materials engineering to pu…

Our mission?
To turn polystyrene waste from teaching labs into polystyrene sulfonic acid resins, affordable, accessible, and reusable catalysts for organic synthesis.

#SustainableChemistry #GreenChemistryEducation

YouTube video by RECOMPENSE project Introducing the RECOMPENSE project (shorter version)

I’m thrilled to share the launch of RECOMPENSE, a project co-created with @uclchemistry.bsky.social
students and funded by a @rsc.org Sustainable Laboratories Grant.

🔗 Learn more about the project:
website: recompenseproject.com
YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@RECOMPENSEp...

Problem-Based Learning in Sustainable Chemistry: A Student Startup Model with PET as a Case Study This paper presents a problem-based learning (PBL) framework designed to enhance sustainable chemistry education through a simulated student startup model. Implemented in the MSc Sustainable Chemistry...

🔔 Preprint Alert!

Thrilled to share our new problem-based learning framework for #sustainablechemistry education, where MSc students simulate startup companies to tackle PET recycling, applying circular economy and #greenchemistry principles.

📄 Read the preprint: tinyurl.com/ms74s5fk

Promotional image for the Royal Society of Chemistry's Sustainable Laboratories Grant 2025. Illustrated scene of diverse scientists working in a lab, with textual details encouraging innovative thinking in science. 'Find out more' invitation included.

Do you have an idea that could make research more environmentally sustainable?

Get up to £10,000 to develop your project and help increase sustainable lab practices. Find out more ➡️ rsc.li/sustainable-labs-grant #ChemSky

Promotional image for the Royal Society of Chemistry's Sustainable Laboratories Grant 2025 featuring diverse scientists working in a vibrant laboratory setting. Quote from Christina Picken, University of Manchester, praising the grant process.

The Sustainable Laboratories Grant 2025 is open!

Apply for up to £10,000 to support projects that improve sustainability in lab practice – we’re accepting applications till 6 October 2025.

Apply today: rsc.li/sustainable-labs-grant