📰 IULTCS News Release: 2025 IUR Research Grant Winners Announced
📅 February 21, 2025
The International Union of Leather Technologists and Chemists Societies (IULTCS) is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 IUR Research Grants, awarded to two outstanding young scientists under the age of 35. These grants, supported by the industry, provide crucial funding to advance leather research and innovation.
🏆 Celebrating a Decade of Research Support
This year marks the tenth anniversary of the IUR grants, an initiative that has continually fostered talent and groundbreaking research in the leather sector. The IULTCS Research Commission (IUR), chaired by Dr. Volker Rabe, has carefully evaluated all applications and is pleased to announce the following recipients:
🔬 Basic Leather Research Grant 2025
👨🔬 Recipient: Mr. Zoheb Akhter, LASRA, New Zealand
📌 Project Title: “Alkaline Hydrolysis of Zeolite and Chrome Shavings: Investigating the Fate of Their Hydrolysate and Undigested Materials”
🔍 Project Focus:
- Exploring the hydrolysis of zeolite and chrome-tanned shavings to assess the purity of the resulting hydrolysates.
- Investigating the fate of chrome and zeolites during hydrolysis.
- Evaluating how tanning agents interact with the collagen matrix and their impact on the hydrolysis process.
🌱 Professor Mike Redwood Sustainability/Environmental Grant 2025
👩🔬 Recipient: Dr. Yudan Yi, Jiaxing University, China
📌 Project Title: “A Cationic Amphiphilic Acrylic Copolymer for Metal-Free Eco-Leather Production: Integration of Retanning and Fatliquoring”
🌍 Project Focus:
- Developing a cationic amphiphilic copolymer with dual functionality for retanning and fatliquoring.
- Enabling metal-free eco-leather production with high-performance properties.
- Reducing the use of leather chemicals and wastewater discharge.
- Enhancing sustainability by shortening processing times and improving efficiency.
⚙️ Leather Machinery/Equipment Grant 2025
🚫 Not awarded this year.
🎉 Acknowledgments & Industry Support
Dr. Volker Rabe congratulates the winners and extends his appreciation to all applicants for their outstanding proposals. He highlights the strong innovation and talent within the leather sector and acknowledges the valuable contributions of reviewers and sponsors:
- 🏅 Tyson Leather – Supporting Basic Leather Research
- 🌿 Leather Naturally – Supporting Sustainability & Environmental Research
🔍 Looking Ahead
The IULTCS eagerly anticipates the valuable insights these projects will contribute to the industry and wishes the award winners continued success in their research endeavours.
📢 Stay tuned for more updates on cutting-edge leather science!
🔗 Visit IULTCS Website for more information.
Post Comment