On 25 September, this year’s MESA+ Meeting was held at Kinepolis in Enschede. It was a joyous meeting, with much time for networking, sharing knowledge, showcasing research and programmes and improving cooperation between different research groups. The programme included lectures given by scientists of MESA+, internationally renowned scientists, networking- and parallel sessions, and, of course, the MESA+ poster competition.
LECTURES AND PARALLEL SESSIONS
Prof. dr. Vinod Subramaniam, president of the University of Twente, opened the meeting with a word of welcome to the almost 600 participants. Andrew DeMello, Professor of Biochemical Engineering in the Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences from ETH Zürich (Switzerland), presented his research on microfluidics. After this inspiring lecture, Prof. Hans Hilgenkamp (BRAINS Centre MESA+) talked about the developments within information technologies, besides the ongoing developments according to Moore’s law. He introduced concepts such as neuromorphic circuitry and in-memory computing and discussed opportunities for the future.
In the afternoon, several MESA+ scientists gave presentations about their research during the annual parallel sessions. At the end of the meeting, Prof. Natalie Stingelin (Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA) gave a lecture called ‘Phase Diagrams of Complex Materials: from the Katana, Swiss Chocolate to Organic Semiconductors’. In this lecture, she explained the progress in the fabrication of polymer-based devices and the many challenges that still exist. Prof. Stingelin illustrated how rules that define the mechanical properties of the Katana and distinguishes good from lesser tasty chocolates, can be applied to organic semiconductors to manipulate their properties.
POSTER COMPETITION
Throughout the day, more than 70 researchposters from all different research groups at MESA+ were presented and discussed. The group with the best poster was awarded this year’s MESA+ poster award. The winners were Francisca L. Gomes, Rick Edelbroek, Jasper van Weerd, Jeroen Leijten and Pascal Jonkheijm, with their poster ‘Erythrocyte-Inspired Lipid Membranes for Improved Particle Hemocompatibility’. The second place was won by V. Alagia, S. Mohanakumar, M.H.G. Duits, I. Siretanu and F.G. Mugele with their poster ‘Assessing Dissolution Rates and Passivating Layer Effects in Olivine Weathering for Enhanced Carbon Mineralization’. The third place went to Suna Azhdari, Jürgen Linders, Deniz Coban, Tim Stank, Carina Dargel, André Gröschel and Frederik Wurm with their poster ‘Fully Biodegradable Polymer Cubosomes for Agrochemical Delivery’.
AWARDS
This year’s Outreach Award, consisting of €1.000 to be spent on outreach activities, was given to Christian Nijhuis, professor Hybrid Materials for Opto- Electronics.
The prizes for the MESA+ Photo contest (Q3 and Q4 2022 and Q1 and Q2 2023), were also awarded at the MESA+ meeting. The winners:
- Q3 2022: Heleen Middelkamp – The beauty of Cells
- Q4 2022: Mariia Zakharova – Living Meh
- Q1 2023: Bas Nooren – Tesla’s microfluidics
- Q2 2023: Gijs Roozendaal – Microparticles Unite as Enschede’s City Emblem
