Yomna El-Mahrouky was awarded a Rideal Travel Bursary to attend the European UK colloids and Interface Society (ECIS) conference held in Bristol, UK in September 2025. Here she tells us about her highlights from the conference.
The European UK Colloids and Interface Society (ECIS) conference took place at Bristol, UK in September 2025. ECIS are famous on showcasing frontiers in fundamental colloid and interface science and its impact.
Their 39th edition attracted more than 700 established and early-career scientists from academia and industry – from UK, EU, US, Australia, China, and further abroad across the globe. The event topics are broad-ranging, from fundamental studies to innovation-oriented research, providing an exciting platform for the delegates to present and discuss latest multidisciplinary research and applications in the field of colloid and interface science.
The following report reflects my experience and the professional insights I gained during the conference.
“This conference provided a fantastic opportunity to share my work on squaramide based systems for controlled fragrance release. My project combines fundamental supramolecular chemistry with potential applications in fragrance delivery.
I found several sessions valuable – specifically those focused on self-assembly, nanoparticles, rheology, which are critical parameters in my PhD project. The scientific themes were nanoparticles, nanostructured materials, surfactants, colloidal interactions, surface forces and hydrogels which are core elements in my project. The international scope of the conference also brought together a diverse research community, offering valuable perspectives and opening doors to global collaboration.
I had the opportunity to present a poster on my current PhD research “Responsive Squaramide Nanoparticles for Lasting Fragrance” which is a current challenge in the field. Representing the poster allowed me to engage with leading experts and early-career researchers working across related areas. Also, through the poster sessions rotating over two days, I received a wide range of insightful feedback on my research.
The general discussions enabled everyone to share their own experiences on publication successes and challenges. Additionally, the inclusion of different speakers provided beneficial advice along with practical tips for achieving successful research. For me, this was a new and motivating experience in terms of developing my own career. Conversations during breaks/networking sessions sparked new perspectives ideas.
What I loved the most about this event is the unique programme focusing on different scopes and the key messages about career development in academia since, I am passionate about academia and have been in this field for more than ten years. Moreover, the presence of a huge number of sponsors and exhibitors who showcased services such as instruments, scientific software, and an array of spectroscopic, chromatographic, lab, and safety equipment made the conference even more interesting and knowledgeable.
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Society of Chemical Industry (SCI) for awarding me the Rideal Travel Bursary sponsored by Sir Eric Rideal Trust, which enabled my attendance at this enjoyable event. The bursary aided me to cover travel and accommodation expenses, allowing me to engage with the scientific programme, free from any financial concerns. Receiving the bursary marked a pivotal moment in my growth as a researcher, granting me access to new knowledge.
Looking back, I feel that attending ECIS conference exposed me to a wide range of knowledge that broadened my understanding of the current research in the field. While, listening to leading experts present their findings gave me inspirational ideas and allowed me to bridge theoretical knowledge with real-world applications, reassuring me that my work is promising and impactful.
From my perspective, presenting my project to a different audience strengthened my ability to communicate effectively and adapt my rationale to different levels of expertise. The feedback I received was constructive and encouraging, helping me to advance my work”.
Yomna El-Mahrouky
PhD student
University of Greenwich
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