Forming connections and reinvigorating the network at RefreSHARE event

Our SHARE Network for early career researchers got together at the University of Surrey on 19 and 20 March to welcome new members and refresh engagement with the community of ECRs working in bioenergy and related fields.

Organised by our new SHARE Committee – Michael Gargaro (University of Surrey), Collette Larkin (University of Edinburgh), Akshay Badge (University of Glasgow), Dan Abudu (Aston University) and Dan Taylor (Aston University) – the event gave ECRs the opportunity to have their say on what they want the network to deliver over the next four years of the Supergen Bioenergy Hub.

After an ice-breaker session and introduction to the hub and the network, attendees heard from SHARE Network almuna Carly Whittaker on her career trajectory to date, which has taken her from SHARE leader and jobs in academia to government departments and her current role as Senior Carbon Scientist at Forest Research.

In a brainstorming session, SHARE members discussed the opportunities and support they would like the network to deliver, including CV and interview training and bid-writing support. They also discussed how they could best support each other as peers, such as through reciprocal reviewing and discussion forums.

Day 1 ended with networking and a poster display competition – won by Prince Okoro from Aston University – followed by a social dinner event in central Guildford.

On day 2 attendees were able to visit the university’s greenhouses where they heard from Zoe Harris, Senior Lecturer in Environment and Sustainability (and another SHARE alumna), and her team from the Taeda Tech project on their innovative work in aeroponics, growing short rotation coppice willow in a mist environment. This work is crucial for enhancing the UK’s biomass stocks to meet the targeted levels by 2050. The team also had exciting news on their breakthroughs growing seeds and other cuttings in this environment, including a miscanthus cutting.

Back on campus, participants joined a lab tour led by Bing Guo and team before reconvening for the closing session. These labs are dedicated to pioneering laboratory processes geared towards sustainable extraction and utilisation of methane, bioethanol, and environmental contaminants, aligning closely with the UK’s net-zero targets.

Feedback on the event from attendees was extremely positive, with many voicing their gratitude for the opportunity to make valuable connections with peers in their field.

The Hub central team would like to thank the SHARE Committee for organising such a successful and engaging event.

Find out more about the SHARE Network here and sign up for updates.