Chemistry for Climate Action winners use volcanic rocks and white-rot fungi for waste management

From 2017 to 2021, about 30% of all scientific research had direct ties to the UN Sustainable Development Goals 새 탭/창에서 열기, with climate change emerging as the most frequently referenced topic, according to Scopus data. This statistic is not startling considering the global threat posed by climate change.

The surprising element might be the significant role chemistry can play in devising pragmatic solutions to the environmental issues we need to conquer for a sustainable future. We need to leverage the potency of chemistry to combat climate change effectively.

The Elsevier Foundation Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge 새 탭/창에서 열기 aims to discover solutions rooted in chemistry that can help mitigate the climate crisis. This year, we received 91 applications from 41 countries. Five finalists presented their proposals to the scientific jury at the 8th Green and Sustainable Chemistry Conference 새 탭/창에서 열기, held May 13–15 in Dresden, Germany. Today, we’re thrilled to announce the winners.

• Dr Altantuya Ochirkhuyag 새 탭/창에서 열기 is a researcher in environmental chemistry at the Mongolian Academy of Sciences 새 탭/창에서 열기 Mongolian Academy of Sciences 새 탭/창에서 열기 Institute of Chemistry and Chemical Technology

• María Alejandra Flórez-Restrepo 새 탭/창에서 열기 is a researcher in the BIOPOLIMER Research Group at Universidad de Antioquia 새 탭/창에서 열기, Colombia.

The winners will each receive a €25,000 prize and two month's access to Elsevier's premier chemistry and cheminformatics database, Reaxys.

“Selecting the winners of the 8^th Challenge was incredibly difficult, but we are delighted to recognize the hard work and dedication of our two winning early career women researchers,” said Prof Dr Klaus Kümmerer 새 탭/창에서 열기, Chair of the Challenge’s scientific jury and the Green & Sustainable Chemistry Conference. “Their commitment towards a sustainable future serves as an inspiration to us all, and we eagerly anticipate the impacts their future work will have.”

Harnessing the properties of volcanic rocks for wastewater treatment

“I truly value the Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge as it provides a great opportunity for early career researchers like me to gain local and international visibility,” said Dr Ochirkhuyag. “It opens up doors for collaboration, in addition to the financial support provided by the grant.”

From fungi to biomaterials: An innovative approach to waste management

The resulting biomaterials are not only a solution to waste management; they also provide an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic materials, marking a significant step towards sustainability in a world grappling with the effects of climate change. Flórez-Restrepo’s project showcases the potential of sustainable development through the innovative use of locally sourced materials. In expressing her gratitude for the win, she said:

This recognition is a reminder of our collective work to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future. We want to develop technologies for the change and take real actions for the benefit of our planet. We are going to develop this project towards circular economy and using our biodiversity with the aim of mitigating the effects of climate change.

Identifying “concrete solutions to very real climate problems”

The Challenge is organized by the Elsevier Foundation in collaboration with Elsevier’s Sustainable Chemistry journal group and the Green & Sustainable Chemistry Conference.