In times of increasing pressure on business and politics with regard to environmental protection and resource efficiency, science and research are called upon to make their contribution and jointly find answers to some of the world's most challenging technological tasks. The conference »ICRC - International Conference on Resource Chemistry«, originally planned for 2020, has been postponed to March 8-9, 2021, due to the Corona pandemic. The event concept has been changed to a purely digital format to enable speakers and participants to network even in times of Corona. In addition, participation will be completely free of charge - registration will take place online via the conference website.

Whether experts in chemistry, materials science or biology, the goal of the conference remains to jointly find solutions for securing and providing indispensable materials in a limited environment. The special focus is on applied resource chemistry in combination with new recycling technologies.

The scientific conference is organized by the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Materials Recycling and Resource Strategies IWKS with the support of the Division »Solid State Chemistry and Materials Research« of the German Chemical Society (GDCh), the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids, and the Technical University of Darmstadt.

»The idea of the conference is to link basic chemistry and materials science with applied research and technologies. Only if we really understand in detail which processes take place, for example, during the aging of a material, can we develop new approaches to either replace critical elements with less critical ones or even reverse the development and bring about a regeneration of the material. Only in this way can we succeed in (further) developing the crucial technologies to conserve our resources and make the vision of a world without waste a reality, « says Prof. Dr. Anke Weidenkaff, Conference Chair of the ICRC and director of Fraunhofer IWKS.

»Linking basic research with applied research and expertise from the industry is immensely important. With the ICRC, not only a conference but a platform has been created here that adds value to the research landscape. We are very pleased to actively participate in the online event with numerous faculty staff and students. In this way, we can make a contribution to interdisciplinarity, which is also an essential part of our self-image as a TU,« explains Prof. Dr. Tanja Brühl, President of the Technical University Darmstadt.

The conference specifically covers a broad spectrum of research areas, from the substitution of critical elements to the development of sustainable materials and the establishment of efficient material cycles. The international conference will bring together researchers and expertise from various fields such as resource and ecochemistry, biology, environmental science and technology, and materials science. In eight different sessions and during a panel discussion in the afternoon of the first day, participants will have the opportunity to discuss and exchange ideas with the speakers. In addition, there will be the opportunity to present themselves digitally with a poster contribution.  

»We have been able to attract outstanding speakers from science and industry for the conference. Our goal is to bring together the brightest minds in the field of resource chemistry - whether researchers, students or expertise from industry,« says Prof. Weidenkaff.

As part of the conference, an online roundtable for a DFG Priority Program »Resource Chemistry - Sustainable Cycles for Materials (SuCyMat)« is planned for March 10, 2021. The priority program aims at theory- and sustainability-based material design, resource- and energy-efficient material production and use, and closing cycles through innovative material recycling processes.

For more information on the conference program, registration and all other organizational matters, please visit: https://s.fhg.ICRC2021.

Press representatives are kindly requested to register in advance by e-mail at presse@iwks.fraunhofer.de. Attendance at the event is free of charge.