Announcing the 25 prize winners from our 5th annual online poster event
This year, over 180 poster abstracts were accepted from presenters from 28 countries for our 5th Commonwealth Chemistry Posters event in September. We were delighted to see a high level of conversation and networking over the three live sessions. The standard of presentation and research was excellent, and the judges were impressed with the enthusiasm and passion shown by the presenters.
We are proud to announce the 25 winners across our 5 SDG themes:
- Responsible Energy (SDGs 7 and 12)
- Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6)
- Sustainable Planet (SDGs 2, 11, 13, 14 and 15)
- Good Health and Wellbeing (SDG 3)
- Community, Education and Industry (SDGs 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 16 and 17)
For 2024, we have also introduced a People’s Choice Award, which has been selected based on the highest number of votes received on our online poster gallery.
These 25 early career researchers from 16 Commonwealth nations show the breadth of excellent research being conducted across the Commonwealth and represent the diversity of Commonwealth Chemistry. We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank all presenters as well as our 31 session chairs and judges.
We are honoured to support these chemists in their future career and personal development. Scroll down to see the feedback from our presenters describing the impact of Commonwealth Chemistry Posters.
People’s Choice Award
Newly introduced for 2024, a prize has been awarded to the presenter who has attracted the highest number of votes on our online poster gallery. You can view all entries in our online gallery.
People’s Choice Award winner
The inaugural People’s Choice Award winner’s contribution attracted over 600 votes in our online gallery. This winner is:
Sanya Khursheed
The University of Karachi, Pakistan
Sanya Khursheed is recognised for the exceptional audience engagement with their poster Electrochemical detection of creatinine at picomolar scale in human body fluids for diagnosis of kidney dysfunction.
Responsible Energy
We received 24 posters in the Responsible Energy theme and awarded three prizes. You can view them in our online gallery.
Responsible Energy prize winners
The three winners in the Responsible Energy theme are:
Pampa Jhariat
Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), India
Pampa Jhariat is recognised for their work on Reticular Synthesis of Two-dimensional Ionic Covalent Organic Networks as Metal-free Bifunctional Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction and Evolution Reactions.
Adonijah Anindo
Maseno University, Kenya
Adonijah Anindo is recognised for their work on Optimized Optical and Morphological Properties of Thin MEH-PPV: PC₇₁BM Films Deposited on Glass Substrates for Photovoltaic Applications.
Galagedarage Oshan Wijerathna
University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
Galagedarage Oshan Wijerathna is recognised for their work on Chain-end functionalization of poly(lactic acid) with 8-hydroxyquinoline to develop a polymeric fluorescence sensor.
Clean Water and Sanitation
We received 42 posters in the Clean Water and Sanitation theme and awarded six prizes. You can view them in our online gallery.
Clean Water and Sanitation prize winners
The six winners in the Clean Water and Sanitation theme are:
Aminat Seriki
Lagos State University, Nigeria
Aminat Seriki is recognised for their work on the Physiochemical assessment of cement manufacturing on groundwater in Onigbedu, Ogun state.
Tengku Sarah Tengku Md Fauzi
Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Malaysia
Tengku Sarah Tengku Md Fauzi is recognised for their work on Electrochemical sensor development for detection of manganese ion in water based on bis-indolylmethane/MCM-48 modified carbon screen-printed electrode.
Mabel Day
The University of Adelaide, Australia
Mabel Day is recognised for their work on Light initiated environmental remediation.
Dilhara Manawadu
University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
Dilhara Manawadu is recognised for their work on Development of novel riboswitch-based biosensors for fluoride detection in the water quality analysis.
G Shreeraj
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal (IISER Bhopal), India
G Shreeraj is recognised for their work on Structural Modulation of Nitrogen-Rich Covalent Organic Frameworks for Multimedia Iodine Remediation.
Tejesvi Patel
The University of the South Pacific, Fiji
Tejesvi Patel is recognised for their work on Chitosan-Based Ionotropic Hydrogels for Effective Bioremediation of
Polyethylene Terephthalate Microplastics.
Sustainable Planet
We received 29 posters in the Sustainable Planet theme and awarded four prizes. You can view them in our online gallery.
Sustainable Planet prize winners
The four winners in the Sustainable Planet theme are:
Winter Zakaria
University of Canterbury, New Zealand
Winter Zakaria is recognised for their work on Quinone-containing Ruthenium Complexes for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation.
Gunjan Sharma
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), India
Gunjan Sharma is recognised for their work on Hot Electron Driven Acetylene Semi-Hydrogenation over Air-Stable Plasmonic Nanoreactors of ‘Black Gold’ using Sunlight.
Emily Burke
Dalhousie University, Canada
Emily Burke is recognised for their work on Improved Bulky Amine Synthesis Used to Access Diazaphospholene Catalysts for Greener Radical Chemistry.
Muhammed Nyass
University of the Gambia, The Gambia
Muhammed Nyass is recognised for their work on Assessing the impact of rain on water quality along the river Gambia.
Good Health and Wellbeing
We received 58 posters in the Good Health and Wellbeing theme and awarded eight prizes. You can view them in our online gallery.
Good Health and Wellbeing prize winners
The eight winners in the Good Health and Wellbeing theme are:
Silver Odongo
Makerere University, Uganda
Silver Odongo is recognised for their work on the Markers of organochlorine pesticides in serum of children from a nodding syndrome hotspot in Northern Uganda: a case-control study.
Sheetal Sonawdekar
D. Y. Patil University, India
Sheetal Sonawdekar is recognised for their work on Comparative analysis of coffee fortified with encapsulated and non-encapsulated biochemical additives.
Oghomwen Christie Ize-Iyamu
Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom
Oghomwen Christie Ize-Iyamu is recognised for their work on the Evaluation of the transdermal delivery of L-Arginine in lipophilic gel formulations: prospect for muscle protein synthesis.
Festus Shafodino Shafodino
Namibia University of Science and Technology, Namibia
Festus Shafodino Shafodino is recognised for their work on Phytochemical characterization and antimicrobial activity of Nigella sativa seeds.
Aqsa Arif
University of Karachi, Pakistan
Aqsa Arif is recognised for their work on Prodrugs of methylprednisolone nanoparticles: an effective anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and analgesic agents.
Emily Brown
Dalhousie University, Canada
Emily Brown is recognised for their work on Synthesis and exploration of α-nitroso pyrroles: medicinal building blocks
Hassan Shoyiga
North-West University, South Africa
Hassan Shoyiga is recognised for their work on Electrochemical quantification of food additives at biosynthesised silver nanoparticles modified gold electrode.
Isha de Silva
The Open University of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka
Isha de Silva is recognised for their work on N,N’,N”-donor linear sulfonamide ligands terminated with quinolinyl rings to synthesize biologically relevant metal complexes.
Community, Education and Industry
We received 25 posters in the Community, Education and Industry theme and awarded three prizes. You can view them in our online gallery.
Community, Education and Industry prize winners
The three winners in the Community, Education and Industry theme are:
Jonathan Ong
National University of Singapore, Singapore
Jonathan Ong is recognised for their work on Bridging Science with Real World Challenges through SDGs and Critical Thinking.
Ikenna Okechukwu
University of Nigeria, Nigeria
Ikenna Okechukwu is recognised for their work on the Effects of Terminalia catappa husk and Pinus pinaster dust additives on the refractory properties of Nsukka Clay in the production of insulating bricks.
Elize Smit
University of Johannesburg, South Africa
Elize Smit is recognised for their work on Unlocking the Secrets of Sampling: Transformative Laboratory Experiments for Undergraduates Based on Environmental Pollution.
Session Chairs and Judges
We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and sincerely thank our international panel of 31 session chairs and judges. This event would simply not be possible without their expert knowledge, dedication and service to the community. Please join us in thanking these researchers.
Dr Jessica White, Australia
Professor Cynthia Ibeto, Nigeria
Dr Innocentia Sibiya, South Africa
Dr Naumih Noah, Kenya
Dr Bianca Provost, United Kingdom
Professor Ganiyat Oloyede, Nigeria
Dr Moses Tlhabologo Kabomo Botswana
Professor Sarah Masters, New Zealand
Professor Alison Thompson, Canada
Dr Lydia Rhyman, Mauritius
Dr Sodeeq Aderotimi, South Africa
Professor Ireshika De Silva, Sri Lanka
Professor Steve Bottle, Australia
Professor Priyani Paranagama, Sri Lanka
Mrs Sithabile Mokoena, South Africa
Dr Genevieve Adukpo, Ghana
Dr Ainka Brown, Jamaica
Dr Wong Lai Chun, Malaysia
Dr Jamal Hassan, United Kingdom
Professor Neil Coville, South Africa
Mr Rishi Verma, India
Dr Nurul Jannah Abd Rahman, Malaysia
Dr Michael Forde, Trinidad and Tobago
Dr Andrew Shore, United Kingdom
Dr Sam Perry, United Kingdom
Dr Nilay Karchaudhuri, India
Dr Rupesh Gaikwad, India
Professor Divya Tripathy, India
Dr Nur Liyana Ismail, Malaysia
Dr Zeyar Min, Jamaica
Professor S Anadhan, India
Feedback
For many of our presenters this was their first opportunity to present to an international audience. We are honoured to support early career researchers across the Commonwealth in their personal and professional development, and it’s great to see the impact and reach of the event increase each year.
“This event was highly informative and provided an excellent opportunity to learn about new approaches to conducting quality research while gaining valuable insights from co-presenters. I particularly enjoyed the exposure to diverse perspectives and methodologies.” – 2024 Participant
“The Commonwealth Chemistry Online Conference was a truly enlightening experience! The caliber of speakers, the depth of discussions, and the global connections made were all truly impressive. The virtual format allowed for unprecedented accessibility and flexibility, making it a shining example of how conferences can be reimagined for the modern era. Well done to the organizers and participants – I left feeling inspired, informed, and connected. Thank you all.” – 2024 Participant
“I enjoyed all the poster sessions which I attended and my own poster presentation in front of expert audience and also very critical and thought-provoking questions by the judges also helped me in getting a new direction or perspective about the research. Overall, this experience has given me new confidence and motivation to do more towards contributing to UN sustainable goals.” – 2024 Participant
“It was a mesmerising experience, attending the sessions. The judges and the organisers were quite helpful during my presentation. The quality of the posters and the presentations displayed were quite enriching. Overall, I enjoyed the sessions quite a lot. Looking forward to the next year.” – 2024 Participant