Christina Puijk was awarded a Rideal Travel Bursary to attend APS Global Physics Summit 2026, held in Denver, USA. Here she tells us about her highlights from the conference.
"The APS Global Physics Summit is the largest physics conference in the world, bringing together more than 14,000 members of the international physics community. The scale and diversity of the meeting created a valuable opportunity to meet and build connections with researchers across a wide range of disciplines, both beyond my immediate research area and within the global soft matter community.
"During the conference, I presented my work on the diffusiophoretic manipulation of modified polystyrene colloids in microfluidic devices. This research investigates how particle and microchannel surface chemistry, together with controlled chemical concentration gradients, can be used to control and direct the motion of colloidal particles in confined geometries. Presenting this work at the APS Global Physics Summit was an excellent opportunity to share these findings with a wider audience and to raise the visibility of my research, and the discussions that followed provided new perspectives that will help guide the next stages of the project.
"The breadth of the conference programme allowed me to explore many areas of physics both within and beyond my own research area. I attended many interesting and thought-provoking talks spanning subjects from Fermi liquid theory and kinetic modelling of thiolyne polymerisation, to bacterial chemotaxis in microfluidic systems. Exposure to such a diverse range of topics was both stimulating and inspiring.
"Another particularly valuable aspect of the conference was the opportunity to interact directly with scientists from a wide range of institutions and research areas. It was especially rewarding to meet so many people working in related fields. Informal discussions during coffee breaks and networking events allowed me to exchange ideas and explore emerging directions within soft matter, colloid science, and beyond. These conversations helped place my research in a broader scientific context and offered new perspectives on how diffusiophoretic mechanisms may be applied in related systems. They also contributed to my professional development by expanding my network and providing insight into potential career paths following the completion of my PhD.
"Overall, attending the APS Global Physics Summit 2026 was an extremely rewarding and enjoyable experience. Presenting my work, engaging with researchers from across the global physics community, and learning about a wide range of cutting-edge research strengthened both the direction of my current work and my motivation to pursue a career in scientific research. I returned with renewed motivation, many new professional connections, and friends that I will never forget!
Christina Puijk
PhD student
University College London
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