Chinese National Final of the IoM3 Young Persons' Lecture Competition
The IOM3 Young Persons’ Lecture Competition (YPLC) is organized annually by the Institute of Materials Minerals and Mining (IOM3). The event is sponsored by The Worshipful Company of Armourers & Brasiers, Henry Royce Institute, Midland Institute of Mining Engineers and East Midlands Materials Society. The YPLC invites students and professionals up to the age of 28 to deliver a short lecture (12 to 15 minutes) on a topic related to materials, minerals, mining, packaging, clay technology, wood science or engineering.
Candidates compete in a series of heats organized by IoM3Local Societies, from which the regional finalists are selected to compete in National Finals. Last week the first ever Chinese National Final was hosted by Queen Mary University of London’s Engineering School in Xi’an, China (QMES). The winner of each National Final will go on to represent their country in the Young Persons' World Lecture Competition (details can be found here) which is held in a different country each year.
Three talented young engineers made it to the first Chinese National Final and delivered their presentation to a hybrid audience (face-to-face and online). QMES’ prestigious lecture theater was filled with students and staff alike; due to international travel restrictions an online audience was also able to dial in and enjoy the presentations. The event was opened with a short introduction and then the contestants took over the show. Details of the presentations (in the order they presented) are given below along with links to their slides and presentations:
Mr Juncheng Fan -Polydopamine-based Antimicrobial Coatings: Mussel-inspired Smart and Versatile Platforms for Orthopedic Implants
Miss Yiran Li -Application of Surfactants on Metal Corrosion Prevention
Mr Botao Huang –Fusion Energy
There are more details about each of our outstanding finalists at the end of this document. All presentations were well received, and it was a difficult decision for the three judges to separate the presenters for the various prizes.
1st Place – Mr Juncheng Fan who will receive a cash prize
2nd Place – Miss Yiran Li who will receive a cash prize
3rd Place- Mr Botao Huang who will receive a cash prize
Dr Andrew Spowage CEng, one of the judges, is quoted as saying, “All of the presenters did a fantastic job. They showed considerable maturity and have promising careers ahead of them".
Faith Nightingale, one of the judges and the competition co-organiser, is quoted as saying, “The lectures given were all of an extremely high standard and really showed the knowledge and presenting abilities of the students. The students really did themselves proud and are an inspiration to other students in QMES”.
Further Information:
For more Information about theYoung Persons’ World Lecture Competition
For more information onQueen Mary University of London Engineering School, Xi’an, the host of the event
For more information on thework, activities, and membership of IOM3
If you, your students or colleagues would like to participate in next years’ Chinese National Finals of the Young Persons’ Lecture Competition please contact Dr Andrew Spowage (a.spowage@qmul.ac.uk)
Details of the Finalists:
Full name: Juncheng Fan
Current age: 22 years old
Year of study: Fourth-year undergraduate
What you plan to do after you graduate: I will pursue postgraduate studies in nanotechnology at the University of Cambridge after my graduation.
Area of interest: Polymer Materials Science and Engineering
Full name: Yiran Li
Current age: 20 years old
Year of study: Third year Undergraduate
What you plan to do after you graduate: I intend to get into a graduate school and further my studies in polymeric materials
Area of Interest: Polymer Synthesis related to Biomedical Science
Full name: Botao Huang
Current age: 21 Years old
Year of study: Third year Undergraduate
What you plan to do after you graduate: Plan to continue my studies abroad.
Area of Interest: Engineering design, materials science, chemistry of materials