The first YEuCat contest: Research in a Nutshell will take place during EuropaCat 2025. It aims to recognize outstanding efforts by young researchers (PhD students and early-career PostDocs) to present their work in an accessible and engaging way. We have just finished the selection process of the 10 finalists, who will present their research in a dedicated session at EuropaCat 2025 in a short oral presentation. The final winners will be selected based on a combined jury and audience vote and will be announced during the conference dinner on Wednesday.  All relevant details are available on the conference website.

Please note: The selected finalists have recently been contacted by the YEuCat team. If you have not received any notification from us, your abstract was unfortunately not selected for the finale. We nevertheless thank you for your participation – there were many, many good contributions and it was very difficult to make a final decision.

The first edition of YEuCat panel discussions “The Metal Showdown: Noble vs. Transition Metals in Modern Catalysis” will be held at EuropaCat 2025 .

A crucial topic in the context of climate change and sustainability is the utilization of critical raw materials and the pursuit of alternatives. In catalysis, this specifically applies to noble metal based materials. Often praised for their excellent activity and stability, the use of noble metals is integral in large-scale industrial applications. However, both economic pressure and ecological concerns are fueling the search for alternative catalysts, primarily based on transition metals. Though these novel materials are promising candidates, most of them fail to reach the stability and activity of their established counterparts. On the other hand, research on noble metal catalysis nowadays often aims to prolong the lifetime of the materials, reduce the metal loading, and find ways to recycle the spent catalysts. In this discussion, we want to shine a light on the needs and goals of the chemical industry, as well as academic researchers, in the field of transition and noble metal catalysis.

This event will be held as a panel discussion moderated by YEuCat and EFCATS. We are currently in the progress of confirming the panelists for this discussion round and will update you here on our webpage soon.

Finally, similar to the very first YEuCat event that was held at EuropaCat 2019 in Aachen, we will again organize a YEuCat workshop: As young researchers navigating the world of catalysis, the path ahead is full of possibilities – industry, academia, startups – but it can also feel overwhelming. That’s why YEuCat is excited to host a new edition of the YEuCat Workshop, designed especially for PhD students and early-career researchers attending EuropaCat 2025.

In this workshop, we want to shed light on different career trajectories with testimonials from people who started just like us. Our panel of speakers includes:

• a young professional and a senior expert from industry, offering two perspectives on industrial career paths

• a startup team member, sharing insights into the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurial science

• an academic professor and a young award-winning researcher, who will talk about pursuing a career in research, applying for funding, and boosting your academic journey.

• an editor of a scientific journal, giving tips to valorize our research and navigate the publication process.

This event will be an informal and inspiring conversation, where the speakers will share their experiences and will answer our questions. It’s also a great chance to connect with fellow researchers and meet the YEuCat community. Lunch will be provided and we will enjoy it together during the session.

The workshop will be moderated by the YEuCat board. We are currently finalizing the list of speakers and updates are coming soon on this page. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore, reflect and connect. Stay tuned!