3rd Commonwealth Chemistry Congress - Abstract book

Partnership for the Goals Commonwealth Chemistry Congress 2023 23 – 25 May | Trinidad and Tobago

3rd Commonwealth Chemistry Congress

Commonwealth Chemistry Congress 2025 11-14 May | Stellenbosch, South Africa

Welcome from the President of Commonwealth Chemistry

It is a pleasure for me to welcome all the Commonwealth Chemistry delegates to the beautiful town of Stellenbosch in South Africa. I hope the setting will provide the ideal location for you all to meet and interact with the many other delegates that come from a wide variety of Commonwealth Chemistry countries from all over the world. The successful 2nd Commonwealth Chemistry Congress took place 23-25th May 2023 at The University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus, in Trinidad and Tobago. This milestone event has provided a strong model for this year’s Congress in terms of speakers, style of presentations and format. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have again provided the focus for all contributions from invited delegates, from the many stimulating panel discussions to the scientific themes for all posters and talks presented by many attendees at this event. Like in 2023, a key focus of the Congress is to enable Early Career Chemists across the Commonwealth to share their research data and findings, stories, and knowledge at this event. All Early Career Chemist delegates should be proud of the achievement of having been selected to attend this unique event. The Commonwealth Chemistry Early Career Network (ECN) was launched in 2023 at the 3rd Commonwealth Chemistry Congress. Since the Congress, the ECN Committee has organised several webinars on topics intended to support Early Career Chemists across the Commonwealth, ranging from empowering women chemists, to fostering scientific collaboration, to advice on accessing advanced laboratory facilities worldwide. The ECN Committee will be offering an exciting session at this year’s Congress which will aim to equip Early Career Chemists with leadership skills to develop their careers – please be sure to make the most of this important session. The overall theme for the Congress is Partnership for the Goals (UN SDG 17) as it was for our Congress in 2023, underlining the importance of collaboration and partnership for the benefit of chemical science across the Commonwealth. In this vein, each country represented at the Congress has been provided the opportunity to attend the meeting under a model of equal representation, offering our Commonwealth Chemistry member societies and wider network of country representatives the opportunity to maximise conversation and networking opportunities, fostering meaningful new international alliances and thus building partnerships for the future. The success of our event will be determined by your engagement with other participants, your thoughts on the future of chemistry and of course your enthusiasm. Please be sure to make the most of this unique opportunity, and of course, enjoy experiencing Stellenbosch and its surroundings.

Professor Neil Coville President, Commonwealth Chemistry University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa

Welcome from the South African Chemical Institute and the Local Organising Committee On behalf of the South African Chemical Institute and the Local Organising Committee, I welcome all our guests to South Africa and the 3rd Commonwealth Chemistry Conference. Our country is blessed with many gifts, boasting the world’s largest reserves of platinum group metals alongside significant deposits of gold and diamonds. The complex arrangement of mountains, oceans, forests, deserts, and estuaries rivers, makes South Africa one of the world’s few megadiverse ecoregions and is a country of breathtaking beauty. This diversity is also reflected in our multicultural society which speaks 11 official languages, and whose citizens ensure that it punches above its weight in the global scientific (and sporting) arenas. The motto on our coat of arms written in I X am, translates to “diverse people unite” in English. However, the post-colonial history of South Africa and the deeply entrenched sociopolitical inequality amongst disadvantaged communities has left an indelible mark on our society, which persists well into the post-apartheid era, making the experience of living in South Africa inherently diverse. While idiosyncratically nuanced, this pattern is reflected in many other regions of the Commonwealth with their own stories of diversity and historical complexity. In the context of chemistry, the development of a fundamental understanding of atomic and molecular interactions has facilitated innovation in nearly all aspects of modern society. While the advances in areas such as health, agriculture, clean water, communication, and energy provision are undoubtedly considered positive, these societal benefits are not equally shared in all regions of the world and large groups of people experience hunger, poor health, and many forms of discrimination. These advances have also come at a price, with the footprint of the chemical industry contributing to global change, and alterations in weather patterns and ecosystems threatening economic growth, global health as well as food and water security. It is at this interface, where the Commonwealth Chemistry Conference finds itself. Through equal and inclusive representation of chemists across the Commonwealth, this conference seeks to harness the diversity of experiences of chemists, to foster collaboration for innovative and sustainable solutions to address the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and through chemistry, catalyse equality for all. To that end, this year we welcome close to 250 delegates, including over 100 Early Career Chemists, from 37 Commonwealth countries. Our schedule includes a blend of invited speakers, panel discussions, flash posters, and poster presentations, covering a wide variety of UN SDG-focussed scientific themes and sessions. Chemistry is an enabling, agile, and transformative science, and it is through continued collective efforts, that we can attempt to correct historical injustice and grow an equal and sustainable global community. In that spirit, we hope our guests enjoy the conference we have put together and use the opportunity to foster new or strengthen existing professional relationships for the longer-term benefit of our society, whilst experiencing what South Africa, and Stellenbosch in particular has to offer.

Professor Clinton Veale Chair, Local Organising Committee University of Cape Town, South Africa

Welcome from the Scientific Organising Committee

This is a moment of pride and optimism, as we welcome you to South Africa for the third Commonwealth Chemistry Congress. Bringing together chemists from across the Commonwealth under the banner of equality for all, this congress will promote the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), strengthen scientific capacity, inspire and elevate the role of the chemical sciences to society and policy makers, and celebrate achievements in chemistry. Representatives from chemical societies across the Commonwealth will join high level stakeholders from academia, industry, and government in South Africa. The Commonwealth is a uniquely diverse group of nations with shared values and a powerful voice. It represents all corners of the globe with a population of 2.5 billion and includes both advanced economies and developing countries. It is home to 12% of the world’s researchers and accounts for around 10% of global research and development expenditure. The unique opportunities for collaboration offered by the Commonwealth include the sharing of common values by bringing together developed and developing regions and creating inclusive gatherings at which no one country or group of countries dominate the proceedings. Our Commonwealth Chemistry colleagues recognise the value in bringing chemistry societies together, focusing on areas of commonality and collaboration, to champion chemistry and highlight the key role that it plays in solving the global challenges all of our nations face. A vitally important area identified in establishing this federation was to nurture the next generation of talent. With 1 in 3 people aged between 15 and 29 living in Commonwealth countries, the Commonwealth is set to play an ever more important role in the world’s future – a future that will present many challenges where science can identify solutions. All Commonwealth Chemistry activities have a strong emphasis on supporting early career researchers. This Congress was designed to give maximum opportunities to Commonwealth researchers in the early stages of their career, provide networking and development opportunities, acting as a springboard for their career development, enabling joint research and education activities, with opportunities to share research outputs. To ensure equal representation, inclusivity, and participation among all Commonwealth nations at this Congress, over 30 Commonwealth countries (either through a society member, associate member or country representative of Commonwealth Chemistry) have nominated representatives and early career chemists to attend. These specially selected delegates join our invited speakers and panellists for a programme designed to maximise conversation and networking opportunities, fostering meaningful new international alliances and building partnerships for the future.

We are running out of time to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. To make real progress we need to work in partnership across borders, whether geographic or scientific. Research has shown that bringing together different people and perspectives leads to much more creative problem solving. That is why we chose the theme of “Partnerships for the Goals” for this Congress. Our three scientific themes are based on the Sustainable Development Goals, and our opening panel discussion will bring together influential members of our community to share how Commonwealth researchers can contribute to achieving these goals. Other panel discussions focus on Transformation of the Commonwealth Chemical Industry, Gender Equality and Reduced Inequalities, Machine Learning and AI in the Chemical Sciences, and Open Access Publishing, providing a quality, inspirational education to all. Alongside early career researchers, we are proud to welcome key stakeholders, influencers, and senior members of our Commonwealth community in these conversations. We want to foster a collaborative approach, through which we can all benefit from dialogue that builds broader impact and outputs to make a real difference across our Commonwealth of nations. We welcome you all to this long-awaited Commonwealth Chemistry Congress and look forward to an exciting and stimulating meeting.

Professor Sir Richard Catlow Chair, Scientific Organising Committee University College London, United Kingdom

Programme 11th - 14th May

Sunday 11 May 2025

Monday 12 May 2025

Tuesday 13 May 2025

Wednesday 14 May 2025

08:00 08:30 09:00 09:10 09:20 09:30 09:40 09:50 10:00 10:10 10:20 10:30 10:40 10:50 11:00 11:10 11:20 11:30 11:40 11:50 12:00 12:10 12:20 12:30 12:40 12:50 13:00 13:10 13:20 13:30 13:40 13:50 14:00 14:10 14:20 14:30 14:40 14:50 15:00 15:10 15:20 15:30 15:40 15:50 16:00 16:10 16:20 16:30 16:40 16:50 17:00 17:10 17:20 17:30 17:40 17:50 18:00 18:10 18:20 18:30 18:40 18:50 19:00 19:30 20:00 21:00 21:30 22:00

LearnSci Breakfast 08:00–08:45 (Mag 1-3)

Commonwealth Publishing 08:00–08:45 (Mag 1)

Commonwealth Synchotron 08:00–08:45 (Mag 1-3) Mark Wuddivira

Breakfast

Nasim Amiralian Keynote (Mag 2)

Margaret Brimble “The Role of Medicinal Chemistry in the Search for New Therapeutic Agents: Natural Products vs Peptides” Plenary (Room Mag 1-3)

Helen Hailes Keynote (Mag 1)

Richard Webster Keynote (Mag 3)

“Multifunctional Role of Food and Agriculture in Eradicating Hunger and Enhancing Health and Well-being in Climate-Sensitive Environments” Plenary (Room Mag 1-3)

ECC flash talks Group2 (Mag 1)

ECC flash talks Group 2 (Mag 3)

ECC flash talks Group 2 (Mag 2)

Machine Learning and AI in the Chemical Sciences Kim Jelfs, Anshu Bhardwaj, Gregg Barrett, Obinna Ofoegbu (Room Mag 1-3)

Gender Equality (SDG 5) and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10) Nelcia Robinson, Yang Farina Abdul Aziz, Stephen Hilton, Shailja Gupta (Room Mag 1-3)

Justus Kwetegyeka Keynote (Mag 1)

Veikko Uahengo Keynote (Mag 2)

Trevor VandenBoer Keynote (Mag 3)

Tea and coffee break (Vista & Mag 4/5)

John Irvine “Developing Sodium Ion Chemistry for

Francesca Kerton “Making Polymers and Materials From Waste Biomass and Carbon Dioxide” Plenary (Room Mag 1-3)

Sustainable Batteries” Plenary (Room Mag 1-3)

President’s Forum (Room Mag 1-3)

Patricia Forbes “The drinking water disinfection conundrum” Plenary (Mag 1-3)

Transformation of the Commonwealth Chemical Industry (SDG 9) Sandip Patil, Karen Wilson, Theo Mudzunga,

Annette Doherty (Room Mag 1-3)

Closing ceremony (with prize giving) (Room Mag 1-3)

Congress Registration Protea Marriott Hotel (Outside Mag 1-3)

Lunch (Vista and Mag 4/5)

Vivek Polshettiwar Keynote (Mag 2)

Preshanthie Naicker Keynote (Mag 3)

Lawrence Borquaye Keynote (Mag 1)

Lunch (Vista and Mag 4/5)

ECC flash talks Group 1 (Mag 3)

ECC flash talks Group 1 (Mag 1)

ECC flash talks Group 1 (Mag 2)

Arrival Lunch and Congress Registration Protea Marriott Hotel (Vista and Mag 4/5)

Abdus Salam “Landscape of the Atmospheric Pollution of Highly Polluted Megacity: Human Health and Climate Change Impact”

5th Annual General Meeting of Commonwealth Chemistry (Room Mag 1-3)

Priyani Paranagama Keynote (Mag 1)

Hwei Voon Lee Keynote (Mag 2)

Kessy Fidel Kilulya Keynote (Mag 3)

(Room Mag 1-3) Hyleen Mariaye

“Post Graduate Professional Learning and Development in Science Education: A necessity in the VUCA age?” (Room Mag 1-3)

Break

Coaches to Stellenbosch University

Open Access Panel Discussion Francesca Kerton, Karen Wilson, Reggie Raju, Raymond Jagessar (Room Mag 1-3)

Opening ceremony (Endler Hall)

Chemical Society Engagement workshop (Mag 3)

Kelly Chibale “Chemistry as a catalyst for scientific entrepreneurship towards sustainable development in Africa” Plenary (Endler Hall)

Early Career Network Session (Mag 1-2)

Poster session 2 (Vista & Mag 4/5)

Panel Discussion: Partnership for the Goals (Endler Hall)

Open Access workshop (Mag 3)

Cocktail and networking reception Endler Hall, Stellenbosch University

Free time/Coaches

Poster session 1 (Vista & Mag 4/5)

Coaches to Protea Marriott Hotel

Gala Dinner Webersburg Wine Estate

Dinner Bossa Goodtimes Stellenbosch

Key

Opening/Closing Ceremonies & Board/Network/Engagement meetings

Panel Discussions & Workshops

Poster sessions

Quality and Effective Education (SDG 4)

Social programme

Early Career Network

Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12)

Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), Climate Action (SDG 13)

Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3)

Invited panellists

Transformation of the Commonwealth Chemicals Industry (SDG 9) Chaired by Professor Sir Richard Catlow Panellists: Dr Sandip Patil Professor Karen Wilson

Dr Theo Mudzunga Dr Annette Doherty

Gender Equality (SDG 5) and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10) Chaired by Professor Ireshika De Silva and Professor Marvadeen Singh-Wilmot Panellists: Ms Nelcia Robinson

Dr Yang Farina Abdul Aziz Professor Stephen Hilton Dr Shailja Gupta

Machine Learning and AI in the Chemical Sciences Chaired by Dr Lydia Rhyman Panellists: Professor Kim Jelfs Dr Anshu Bhardwaj Mr Gregg Barrett Dr Obinna Ofoegbu

Open Access Panel Discussion Chaired by Ms Sara Bosshart Panellists: Professor Raymond Jagessar Professor Francesca Kerton Dr Reggie Raju Professor Karen Wilson

Invited speakers Quality and Effective Education Plenary:

Professor Hyleen Mariaye Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Good Health & Well-being (SDG 3) Chaired by Professor Dr Md. Iqbal Rouf Mamun and Dr Genevieve Adukpo Plenary:

Professor Margaret Brimble Professor Mark Wuddivira Keynote: Professor Justus Kwetegyeka

Dr Lawrence Sheringham Borquaye Professor Helen Hailes Professor Priyani Paranagama

Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12) Chaired by Professor Karen Wilson and Professor James Darkwa Plenary: Professor Francesca Kerton Professor John Irvine Keynote: Professor Vivek Polshettiwar

Professor Hwei Voon Lee Professor Veikko Uahengo Professor Nasim Amiralian

Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), Climate Action (SDG 13) Chaired by Professor Cora Young, Professor Grace Birungi and Professor Rufus Sha’Ato Plenary:

Professor Patricia Forbes Professor Abdus Salam Keynote: Professor Richard Webster

Ms Preshanthie Naicker Prof Trevor VandenBoer Dr Kessy Fidel Kilulya

Opening Ceremony

Chair: Professor Neil Coville

Prof. Neil Coville, President of Commonwealth Chemistry

1530

Welcome on behalf of CC

Prof. Susan Bourne, Representative of Local Organising Committee Prof. Zenixole Tshentu, President, South African Chemical Institute Prof. Sibusiso Moyo, Deputy Vice Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies, University of Stellenbosch

1540

Welcome on behalf of LOC

1545

Welcome on behalf of SACI

Welcome and opening of Congress

1555

1600 Opening plenary Chaired by Professor Clinton Veale Speaker: Professor Kelly Chibale Title: “Chemistry as a catalyst for scientific entrepreneurship towards sustainable development in Africa” 1630-1730 “Partnership for the Goals” panel discussion Chaired by Professor Sir Richard Catlow

Plenary Speaker Prof Kelly Chibale

Kelly Chibale is a Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Cape Town (UCT) where he holds the Neville Isdell Chair in African-centric Drug Discovery & Development. He is also a Schmidt Sciences AI2050 Senior Fellow, Full Member of the UCT Institute of Infectious Disease & Molecular Medicine, founding Director of the South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery & Development Research unit at UCT, Founder & Director of the UCT Holistic Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), and Founder & CEO of the H3D Foundation. Kelly obtained his PhD in Synthetic Organic Chemistry from the University of Cambridge (UK) with Stuart Warren. This was followed by postdoctoral stints at the University of Liverpool (UK) with Nick Greeves and at The Scripps Research Institute (USA) with K.C. Nicolaou. He was a Sandler Sabbatical Fellow at the University of California San Francisco (USA), a US Fulbright Senior Research Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (USA), and a Visiting Professor at Pfizer (UK). Kelly’s research interests are in drug discovery and the development of tools and models to contribute to improving treatment outcomes in people of African descent. He serves as Editor-In-Chief of the American Chemical Society (ACS)’s ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters.

Plenary, Opening Session

Chemistry as a catalyst for scientific entrepreneurship towards sustainable development in Africa Kelly Chibale Drug Discovery and Development (H3D) Centre, Department of Chemistry and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa E-mail: Kelly.Chibale@uct.ac.za Scientific entrepreneurship broadly refers to using science for development, for example to undertake health innovation through translational research, building enabling technology platforms and creating jobs. While there are large numbers of African scientists graduating, as well as a large number that forms part of the diaspora, supporting local scientific entrepreneurship can help move the continent forward. Being a central science, chemistry, when integrated with other disciplines, can catalyze scientific entrepreneurship to drive job creation, address unmet medical needs and contribute to reversing the brain drain out of Africa. This lecture will describe the journey of the University of Cape Town Holistic Drug Discovery and Development (H3D) Centre and its associated H3D Foundation in exemplifying scientific entrepreneurship. Initiatives aimed at expanding the ecosystem and community towards building a critical mass of skilled scientists across the continent of Africa in a sustainable manner will also be described. Key words: chemistry, entrepreneurship, health innovation, translational research

Transformation of the Commonwealth Chemicals Industry (SDG 9)

During this session, speakers from a variety of backgrounds will provide perspectives on the changing global landscape and challenges faced by chemical industry. Chaired by Professor Sir Richard Catlow

Panellists: Dr Sandip Patil Professor Karen Wilson

Dr Theo Mudzunga Dr Annette Doherty

Panellists

Dr Sandip Patil Dr. Sandip Patil is a Serial Entrepreneur, distinguished researcher and motivational speaker with extensive expertise in nanofiber processing technology, material chemistry and active nano membrane technology. Holding a PhD in Chemical Engineering from IIT Kanpur India, Dr. Patil has over 13 years of translational research experience, which has driven him to the forefront of nanotechnology innovation. His deep passion for this field led to the founding of E-Spin Nanotech Pvt. Ltd. in 2010, where he has spearheaded the development of cutting-edge technologies, including the widely acclaimed nanofiber-based reusable and antibacterial/ antiviral SWASA-N95 facemasks—a critical innovation during the COVID-19 pandemic served 50 million people worldwide. Dr. Patil’s work is highly recognized, with numerous scientific publications and multiple national and international patents to his name. His research has garnered international attention, featured in outlets such as CNN U.S. Edition, Mint, and the Wall Street Journal. As a leading entrepreneur in nanotechnology, Dr. Patil has guided his company to achieve significant milestones, including the prestigious DSIR recognition. Beyond his entrepreneurial success, Dr. Patil actively contributes to academia as an advisor and Education Board Member at various institutions. He is also deeply committed to social activism, playing a key role in IIT Kanpur’s Unnat Bharat Abhiyan, an initiative focused on sustainable agriculture and rural development in India. Prof Karen Wilson Prof Karen Wilson is Professor of Catalysis at the Centre for Catalysis and Clean Energy at Griffith University, and previously held professorial positions at RMIT University (2018-23) and Aston University (2013-17). At Aston she was also Research Director of the European Bioenergy Research Institute and held a prestigious Royal Society Industry Fellowship in collaboration with Johnson Matthey. Karen holds a BA and PhD from the University of Cambridge, and MSc in heterogeneous catalysis from the University of Liverpool, and has also held academic positions at the University of York and Cardiff University. She has published >300 peer- reviewed articles (h-index 82, >25,000 citations Google Scholar). Karen’s research interests lie in the design the design of tunable porous materials for sustainable biofuels and chemicals production from renewable resources. Karen is Associate Editor of Sustainable Energy & Fuels (Royal Society of Chemistry), and Energy & Environmental Materials (Wiley) and Editorial Board member for Energy & Environmental Science (Royal Society of Chemistry). She is also a co-investigator and theme leader the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence, ‘Green Electrochemical Transformation of Carbon Dioxide’ - GetCO2.

Dr Theo Mudzunga Theo Mudzunga has extensive experience in the field of science research and technology development. Theo has worked for Sasol since 2016, holding various positions such as Vice President Science Research, Senior Manager: Technology and Development, and Senior Sales Manager Exports (Polymers). Prior to joining Sasol, Theo worked at iThemba Pharmaceuticals as a Research Chemist and at the University of Witwatersrand as a Post Doctoral Research Scientist. Throughout their career, they have demonstrated expertise in R&D, laboratory management, and market development. Theo Mudzunga holds a Bsc hons degree in Chemistry from the University of Venda for Science and Technology, which they obtained from 1995 to 1998. Theo then pursued a PhD in Organic Chemistry at the University of Cape Town from 1999 to 2003. Additionally, they completed an Accelerated Management Development Programme (AMDP) at Stellenbosch Business School in 2009, and a Management Acceleration Programme (MAP) at INSEAD in 2016. Dr Annette Doherty Annette has 35 years of international experience working within the pharmaceutical sector, including at Warner-Lambert, Pfizer and most recently GSK where she was Senior Vice President, Global Head of Product Development and Clinical Supply. She has been directly involved in the research, development and launch of over 30 new medicines in respiratory, infectious diseases, cancer and inflammatory conditions. She is the recently appointed Chair of the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust and is also a non-executive at the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. She is a Trustee of St John Ambulance charity, a Council Member at Innovate UK part of UKRI and Member at the Tonbridge Grammar School Academy. She has a BSc in Chemistry (1982) and a PhD in Organic Synthesis (1985) from Imperial College London and has conducted postdoctoral research with a NATO fellowship at Ohio State University (1985-1987). In 2009, Annette was awarded an OBE in recognition of her services to the pharmaceutical sector. She is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and an Honorary Fellow of the British Pharmacological Society. She is the current President of the Royal Society of Chemistry - 2024 – 2026.

Gender Equality (SDG 5) and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10)

During this session, panellists will tell the story of equality and diversity in chemistry by: • Analysing the specific challenges related to gender equality within the field of chemistry in Commonwealth nations; • Exploring how gender inequalities intersect with other forms of inequality in chemistry; • Identifying effective strategies and initiatives aimed at promoting gender equality and reducing inequalities in chemistry across the Commonwealth; • Facilitating an engaging dialogue with the audience, fostering a sense of shared commitment to action. Chaired by Professor Ireshika De Silva and Professor Marvadeen Singh-Wilmot

Panellists: Ms Nelcia Robinson

Dr Yang Farina Abdul Aziz Professor Stephen Hilton Dr Shailja Gupta

Panellists Ms Nelcia Robinson

Nelcia Robinson’s objective was “To promote sustainable communities: A spiritual action-oriented voice for awakening and releasing creative capacity towards liberation and development of people.” This statement captured her passion, for people’s empowerment and holistic development, which propelled and embodied Nelcia Robinson for more than 40 years of leadership and activism, social mobilization and advocacy. Nelcia’s earliest group was formed in 1970 when she gathered a group of youth men and women and taught them to read and write. As she became more deeply involved in the community her awareness of the various levels of deprivation grew, she became the voice of the oppressed (while helping them to /find their voice) often drawing the ire of policy makers in the early days. Nelcia’s activism had seen her advocating on issues of crime and violence, youth unemployment and gender-based violence and leading across multiple sectors, groups and themes including indigenous people, youth, persons with disabilities, women, the elderly, rural development, education, trade, small island developing states (SIDS). Her work was firmly grounded in her faith in God which she credited as the driving force of all she did. Work at the community level led to recognition at national, regional and international levels. Her commitment to service saw her entering electoral politics as a candidate in national general elections and served as deputy leader of a political party with the real possibility of causing a political upset given her popularity with the electorate”.

Dr Yang Farina Abdul Aziz ChM Dr. Yang Farina Abdul Aziz was a Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). Apart from her scientific endeavours she was a member of a Think-Tank Group to advise the Ministry of Education on policy matters pertaining to academia and internationalisation. Dr Yang Farina has published more than 130 scientific papers in international and national journals as well as more than a hundred proceeding papers. She has written books on inorganic chemistry as well as on water pollution. Her most recent book is “Water and Society in Malaysia”. She has also co-authored books and written articles on higher education. Currently Dr Yang Farina is retired from UKM. However, she remains active in Institut Kimia Malaysia and Akademi Sains Malaysia. She was elected as the Vice President of IKM for the term 2024/25. Dr Yang Farina was appointed as a Titular Member of Division II (Inorganic Chemistry) of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) for the period of 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2025. She is a Fellow of the Malaysian Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM). As a Fellow she has served as the Chairman of the National Science Challenge Steering Committee. Committee. She is also the Alternate Chairman to the Chemical Discipline in ASM. She is also an active member of ASM’s Water Committee. Dr Yang Farina is married and has a son Dr. Muhammad Haziman Mohamad Fauzi who is serving as a medical officer in The National Heart Institute. In her spare time, Dr Yang Farina loves walking, hiking, workout in the gymnasium, writes and debates in her Facebook and Instagram, and reads novels.

Prof Stephen Hilton Dr. Stephen Hilton studied Chemistry with Management at King’s College London (BSc 1996) and completed his PhD in 2002 under the supervision of Professor Keith Jones at King’s College London and Kingston University. He then undertook postdoctoral research with Professor William Motherwell FRS at University College London (2002-2006) and at the Institute of Cancer Research, University of London (2006-2008). In 2008, he was awarded an RCUK fellowship at the School of Pharmacy, University of London, which later became the UCL School of Pharmacy, where he currently holds the position of Associate Professor. Dr. Hilton has published over 50 research papers across a range of journals and contributed to two book chapters. His research spans medicinal chemistry, scale-up synthesis, and new technology development, with a strong emphasis on the applications of 3D printing, Virtual Reality, and AI-driven automation in synthetic chemistry and pharmaceutical sciences. He is the inventor of the IKA FLOW continuous flow reactor, a commercially available system developed in partnership with IKA, featuring unique 3D-printed reactors pioneered by his research group. His current work focuses on integrating AI-driven digital twins, virtual reality, and automation into continuous flow chemistry, with applications in catalysis, methodology development, and smart lab environments. His group is also advancing low-cost sensor integration for remote reaction monitoring and developing AI-assisted VR training tools for laboratory safety and workflow optimization. He is leading multiple initiatives in VR-based education and outreach, including the UCL200: Digital Futures program, which leverages VR and multilingual AI avatars to enhance STEM education and career engagement for underrepresented communities. His work has been recognized with the Royal Society of Chemistry Horizon Prize for Education and several international accolades.

Dr Shailja Gupta India - Former Senior Adviser, Government of India

Dr Shailja Gupta obtained her Ph.D. Degree and Post Doctorate experience from Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi and her Masters in Biochemistry

from University of Poona. Government Experience:

• Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India from March 2, 1998, superannuating as Adviser/ Scientist G on April 30, 2022. • A significant two-year deputation (September 2019-September 2021) as Senior Adviser/Scientist ‘H’ at the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. National and International work experience: • At the Department of Biotechnology, was responsible for developing international collaborations, with both governmental and non- governmental organisations (Wellcome Trust, Gates Foundation, CEPI etc.) and leading many national and international programmes of significant importance and impact. • Conceptualised, funded and managed major projects in all fields of biotechnologyhealth, agriculture, environment sciences as well as programmes on human resource development and science outreach. • Arranged training programmes in best agricultural practices for marginalised women farmers at IRRI, Manila, besides over seeing mentoring programme for women scientists. • During the pandemic, at the office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, major advisories for pandemic management as part of the pandemic response were issued under her guidance. These included the use of home made masks, proper deployment of ventilation and home care guidelines for Covid-19 patients. • Member secretary for the Prime Minister Office Constituted Task Force for “Focused Research and Development of Corona vaccine and other science and technology issues” during the pandemic • Experience with the government has culminating in rich and varied expertise in science and education policy, international cooperation and science outreach and communication. Post-superannuation engagement: • Chief Project Director, India-Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (IndCEPI) at the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad, India, since 06 June 2022. • Additionally, serving as an adjunct professor at the School of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mandi.

Machine Learning and AI in the Chemical Sciences

This session will showcase how Machine Learning and AI are revolutionising the chemical sciences and addressing all UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in an interactive format. Chaired by Dr Lydia Rhyman

Panellists: Professor Kim Jelfs Dr Anshu Bhardwaj Mr Gregg Barrett Dr Obinna Ofoegbu

Panellists Prof Kim Jelfs

Prof. Kim Jelfs is a Professor of Computational Materials Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry at Imperial College. Her group specialises in the use of computer simulations and artificial intelligence to assist in the discovery of supramolecular materials, particularly porous materials and organic electronics, working closely with experimental collaborators. Kim was awarded a 2018 Royal Society of Chemistry Harrison-Meldola Memorial Prize, a 2019 Philip Leverhulme Prize in Chemistry, was the 2022 Blavatnik Awards Laureate in Chemistry and held an European Research Council Starting Grant. She is co-Director of the Institute for Digital Molecular Design and Fabrication at Imperial and an Associate Editor for Chemical Communications. She Co-Directs the UK’s AI for Chemistry hub (AIChemy) funded by the EPSRC. Dr Anshu Bhardwaj Anshu Bhardwaj has more than 17 years of experience in applications of data science in genomics and drug discovery. She did her Ph.D. from CSIR- CCMB in the domain of precision medicine. Her lab (AB-Data Science Lab) is dedicated towards unraveling the intricacies of complex phenotypes, with a keen focus on infectious and mitochondrial diseases. Over years, her team has developed new algorithms and platforms towards discovering novel targets and inhibitors utilizing network and AI/ML based approaches. She served as an Associate scientific advisor to Science Translational Medicine and is on the Editorial board of PLoS Global Public Health, Journal of Genetics, Review Editor for Frontiers in Systems Biology, Protein Bioinformatics and Computational Genomics and Advisor to F1000 Research Galaxy Gateway. She has several publications, honors and awards to her credit - She was selected as one of the four Young Innovators in India by United National Development Program (UNDP), selected for the prestigious International Visitor Leadership Program by US State Department, awarded Newton- Bhabha Fund from the British Council and the Royal Society of Chemistry, UK and long-term Group Leader Fellowship by INSERM, France. She conceived, designed and implemented crowdsourcing as a tool to tackle challenging scientific problems, which is considered a futuristic approach to drive big data scientific projects and has trained over 500 students. She also utilizes innovative education technologies like video games to raise awareness on pressing health issues. More recently, her lab has developed a unique scientific video game for awareness on AMR which is endorsed by WHO, India.

Mr Gregg Barrett Gregg Barrett is the CEO of Cirrus, Africa’s AI initiative. Gregg is a technology executive who builds and scales innovative operations at large private and public sector organisations, non-profits, and start-ups globally. Presently, his focus is on Africa’s three largest projects in women’s health, coffee manufacturing, and AI driven securities market making. He is a seasoned executive with extensive and diverse experience in strategy, building and managing relationships, deal making, communication, developing high performance teams, organisational leadership, and problem solving across a range of areas. Over the last decade Gregg has led work in data science, machine learning, corporate research, and corporate venture capital. He is a participant in MLCommons, the Energy Efficient High Performance Computing Working Group (EE HPC WG), TinyMLedu, the OECD.AI Compute task force, the South African AI Association, and is the COO of Elle International. He holds an undergraduate degree from Oxford Brookes University in Marketing and Business Management, a Masters in Data Science from Northwestern University, and has completed the Professional Risk Manager (PRM) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) programmes. Gregg serves as the Alumni Admission Council Director and the Global Ambassador for Northwestern University in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Dr Obinna Ofoegbu Dr. Obinna Ofoegbu is a Nigerian research chemist and academic with over 20 years of experience in scientific research, lecturing, and project management. He specializes in polymer synthesis, nanomaterial fabrication, materials recycling, and molecular imprinting. He holds PhD, MSc, (Polymer Chemistry), and B.Tech (Industrial Chemistry). Dr. Ofoegbu’s career spans 14 years in research institutes and 13 years in academia, and has held key roles at institutions such as Dominion University Ibadan, the National Open University of Nigeria, and the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology, Zaria, where he led projects in polymer research and municipal waste recycling. His research includes developing chitosan-based molecularly imprinted polymer filters and optimizing biodiesel production from neem seed oil. Beyond research, he has served as Head of Department, Director of Academic Planning, and Deputy Dean, contributing to curriculum development and institutional governance. He played a pivotal role in designing a low-cost mechanical ventilator during the COVID-19 pandemic. A recipient of TetFund IBR and Swedish Research Council grants, Dr. Ofoegbu integrates research with practical applications, presenting at international conferences on sustainable solutions, including AI- optimized lignin extraction and depolymerization as well as Quantum- Dot-Embedded, AI-Optimized Biopolymer blend-matrices for Targeted Multi-Drug Delivery. His work underscores a commitment to environmental sustainability and advancing industrial chemistry, a reflection of technical expertise, strategic project execution, and a commitment to sustainable scientific innovation. Dr Obinna is currently the head, department of Industrial chemistry at his university and the principal investigator for the “Polymer, Nano and Molecular Recognition Materials Research Group”, in his department.

Quality and Effective Education (SDG 4)

Plenary: Professor Hyleen Mariaye

Plenary Speaker Prof Hyleen Mariaye

Professor Hyleen Mariaye holds a Doctor of Education from UNISA and degrees from Delhi University. She serves as Head of Higher Studies at the Mauritius Institute of Education since 2017. Dr. Mariaye is a World Bank Consultant Expert, UNESCO Co-chair for Higher Education in Mauritius, and member of the Africa Deans of Education Steering Committee. She is an Honorary Associate Professor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and Senior Fellow at Advance Higher Education (UK). Her research focuses on educational theory, policy, and professional development, with publications covering teacher education and doctoral learning in multicultural contexts..

Quality and Effective Education

Post graduate professional learning and development in science education: a necessity in the VUCA age?

Hyleen Mariaye Mauritius Institute of Education E-mail: h.mariaye@mie.ac.mu

This presentation engages with the question of professional learning and development of science education in a VUCA age. It briefly outlines the characteristics of the VUCA age which speak to education in general, and science education in particular. The paper raises the question as to whether teaching needs to be reimagined beyond techniques and technologies if students are to squarely face the wicked problems of the VUCA age. It further troubles the conception of a discipline driven curriculum highlighting the ways in which interdisciplinary knowledge is now needed to respond to black swan events. The implications for designing learning and teaching in science are analysed followed by a discussion of what this means for the nature of professional learning and development for teachers of science. It is argued that post graduate learning opportunities may be critical in assisting teachers to reconstruct their professional practice in ways which are compatible with present and future challenges. Key words: Postgraduate, Learning, Professional, VUCA References 1. Agustian, H.Y. The Critical Role of Understanding Epistemic Practices in Science Teaching Using Wicked Problems. Sci & Educ (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11191-023-00471-2

Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Good Health & Well-being (SDG 3)

Chaired by Professor Dr Md. Iqbal Rouf Mamun and Dr Genevieve Adukpo

Plenary: Professor Margaret Brimble Professor Mark Wuddivira

Keynote: Professor Justus Kwetegyeka Dr Lawrence Sheringham Borquaye Professor Helen Hailes Professor Priyani Paranagama

Plenary Speakers Prof Margaret Brimble

Margaret is a Distinguished Professor and Director of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. She is an Executive Editor for Organic Letters, Deputy Director of the Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Past-President of IUPAC Organic and Biomolecular Division III and Past-President of the International Society of Heterocyclic Chemistry. She has published >580 papers, 100 reviews and is an inventor on >50 patents. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society London, Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit and was inducted into the American Chemical Society Medicinal Chemistry Hall of Fame. She was awarded the 2023 Davy Medal from the Royal Society London, Rutherford, Hector and MacDiarmid medals (Royal Society NZ), 2022 Royal Society of Chemistry Pedler Award for innovation in Organic Chemistry and the 2023 American Chemical Society Ernest Guenther award for Natural Products Chemistry. She was also named the 2007 L’Oreal-UNESCO Women in Science laureate in Materials Science for Asia-Pacific and a 2015 IUPAC Distinguished Women in Chemistry/Chemical Engineering. Margaret’s research focusses on the synthesis of novel bioactive natural products, antimicrobial and antiviral peptides, antibody-drug conjugates, lipopeptides/glycopeptides for vaccines and new biomaterials. Her lab carried out the medicinal chemistry programme that led to the discovery of the drug Trofinetide (NNZ2566) that gained FDA approval (marketed as DaybueTM) in March 2023 for the treatment of Rett Syndrome (http://www. neurenpharma.com; https://acadia.com). Her team also carried out the medicinal chemistry for the investigational new drug candidate NNZ2591 that is currently in phase 2 clinical trials for four neurogenetic disorders: Angelman syndrome, Pitt Hopkins syndrome, Phelan-McDermid syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome.

Prof Mark Wuddivira Professor Mark Wuddivira is the Dean of the Faculty of Food and Agriculture at The University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine, and a Professor of Agri-Environmental Soil Physics. He also serves as the President and a Fellow of the Caribbean Academy of Sciences (CAS) and is a member of the International Science Council’s (ISC) Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Liaison Committee. An internationally recognized expert in agricultural and environmental sciences, Professor Wuddivira’s research focuses on soil physical management and the sustainable use of humid tropical ecosystems. His work has been widely published in leading international journals, and he is frequently invited to deliver keynote speeches and expert presentations at high-level UN, ISC, Latin America, and Caribbean meetings. In addition to his ongoing academic contributions, he has also served as a Visiting Lecturer/Researcher at top international institutions, with his longest tenure being from May 2018 to May 2019 at the Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Germany. Professor Wuddivira has played a pivotal role in advancing a comprehensive interdisciplinary research programme that integrates plant and soil science, driving innovation and research dissemination both regionally and internationally. In recognition of his significant contributions, he was awarded the Principal’s Research Award as the Most Outstanding Faculty Researcher in 2023. A leading figure in the academic and scientific communities, particularly in advancing science, technology, and innovation for sustainable development in SIDS, Professor Wuddivira champions the transformation of the agri-food system to ensure food security and resilient development for these vulnerable regions. He holds a Ph.D. in Soil Science and a Graduate Certificate in University Teaching and Learning from UWI, as well as a BSc in Agriculture and an MSc in Soil Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria. He also earned an International Graduate Certification from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. In addition to his academic and research roles, Professor Wuddivira chairs the Editorial Board of the journal Tropical Agriculture and is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science (Wiley). He serves on various steering committees and advisory boards, including the Caribbean WaterNet/CAPNET UNDP, the Cocoa Research Centre at UWI, and the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI). He is also a member of the Advisory Council for the Transformation of Agri-Food Systems (CATSA) at the Inter- American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and chairs the Consortium of Universities in the Caribbean Communities involved in Agricultural Education and Research (CUCAER).

Plenary, Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Good Health & Well-being (SDG 3)

The role of medicinal chemistry in the search for new therapeutic agents: natural products vs peptides

Margaret Brimble School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland, New Zealand. Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery. E-mail: m.brimble@auckland.ac.nz

Natural products have long been regarded as “Nature’s medicine chest” providing invaluable platforms for developing front-line drugs. The chemical structures of natural products have evolved over several millennia for a specific biochemical purpose and their molecular frameworks can be considered “privileged scaffolds.” The synthesis of several bioactive natural products as “privileged scaffolds” for drug discovery will be described. This lecture will also showcase our research on the synthesis of peptidomimetics, lipopeptides and glycopeptides as a platform for the discovery and development of peptide therapeutics as agents to treat neurogenetic disorders, infectious diseases, cancer and diabetes. One example includes the peptidomimetic drug candidate trofinetide (NNZ2566) that was approved by the US FDA in 2023 as the first drug for the treatment of Rett Syndrome (tradename Daybue TM ).

Key words: Natural products, peptides, drug discovery, synthesis, infectious diseases

Plenary, Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Good Health & Well-being (SDG 3)

Multifunctional role of food and agriculture in eradicating hunger and enhancing health and well-being in climate-sensitive environments Mark N. Wuddivira Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. E-mail: mark.wuddivira@sta.uwi.edu Global Environmental Change associated with a changing climate along with a myriad of socio-political and economic stressors continue to adversely impact global food security. Despite global efforts, in 2022, an estimated 45 million children under the age of 5 suffered from wasting, 148 million had stunted growth and 37 million were overweight. A fundamental shift in trajectory is needed to achieve the 2030 nutrition targets. Developing nations in climate-sensitive regions are vulnerable to climate change, climate extremes and climate variability. Noting the intricate interconnectivity between agriculture and the environment, agri-food systems must be set up in a way that they not only sustain livelihoods but also improve resilience, alleviate environmental degradation, and improve nutritious diets and health outcomes. The role of food and agriculture as the convergence of science, technology, innovation, policy intervention, and community empowerment become critical. Using the Caribbean Small Island States as a case study, food and nutrition security in climate-sensitive environments are in the context of food, diets, and health outcomes focusing on undernourishment, stunting and wasting, overweight and obesity. The potential of Climate-Smart agricultural practices as transformative approaches to mitigating hunger and malnutrition, coupled with the role of chemistry in food safety practices, the development of drought- resistance varieties, biofortification techniques, and sustainable soil and water management approaches are explored. Further dive is taken into resilient agri-food systems and their health implications to combat malnutrition, curtail the prevalence of diet-related diseases, and address health threats from environmental degradation. In conclusion, interdisciplinary collaboration utilizing a paradigm change toward sustainable, inclusive, and resilient food systems that can withstand and thrive in vulnerable areas in the face of climate challenges is proposed with science, technology, and policy as the hallmark of sustainable and resilient food and agriculture systems, particularly in climate-sensitive environments.

Key words: Climate-Sensitive Environments, Food Security, Climate-Smart Agriculture, Health and Nutrition, Climate Resilience

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