This one day symposium, which will be held at the Materials Innovation Factory (Liverpool), hopes to provide researchers with information and ideas about how automation can be applied to different areas of research including organic synthesis, supramolecular assemblies, organic materials, and polymer synthesis, and will elucidate options for seeking access to equipment to apply it to their own research ideas.

There will be a range of talks presenting case-studies of the use of an enabling technology in their research, such as high-throughput synthesis platforms, flow reactors, or low-cost automation, to promote their use and demonstrate the benefits of embracing automation in research. There will also be a session on what capabilities are available in the UK with the routes on how to access them. Confirmed speakers include Lee Cronin (Glasgow), Andy Cooper (Liverpool), Varinder Aggarwal (Bristol), Matt O’Brien (Keele), Anna Slater (Liverpool), Nick Warren (Leeds) and Ben Deadman (ROAR).

Preliminary Agenda:

9.30 – Registration (tea and coffee)

10.20 – Introduction

10.30 – Case Studies: High-Throughput Automation Platforms

Andy Cooper, University of Liverpool

Varinder Aggarwal, University of Bristol

12:00 – Poster session and Lunch (included) & tours of MIF/automation at Liverpool

13:30 – Case Studies: Flow Chemistry and low-cost automation

Lee Cronin, University of Glasgow

Matthew O’Brien, Keele University

Nick Warren, University of Leeds

Anna Slater, University of Liverpool

15:00 – Coffee Break (opportunity to discuss how the technologies presented so far could be applied for your research, and/or discuss potential new collaborations)

15:30 – Enabling Access (capabilities and routes to access)

Ben Deadman, ROAR, Imperial College London

Kathryn Knuckey, Materials Innovation Factory

Richard Bourne, Dial-a-Molecule

16:25 – Concluding Remarks

16:30 – Networking and Wine reception

17:30 – Meeting Close

Attendees are encouraged to bring along a poster to promote networking and discussion - this is not limited to the use of an enabling technology in their research, for example, posters covering the development of low-cost automation equipment, or if you are looking to set up a collaboration to incorporate some automation in your research, would be welcome.

The symposium is free to attend, and includes refreshments and lunch, although spaces are limited so if you register but find you can no longer attend, please do let us know.

We look forward to welcoming you to Liverpool!