The 2024 Analytical Research Forum

18 June 2024

This flagship event for the analytical science community was attended by 100 delegates. It showcased cutting edge analytical chemistry and its applications encompassing industry and academia.

The programme included keynote talks from RSC Prize winners and leaders from industry including Tony Bristow (AstraZeneca), Azzedine Dabo (GSK), Julie MacPherson (University of Warwick) and Robert Weatherup (University of Oxford).

Picture: Delegates at the panel discussion

Alongside the keynote talks, there was a rich programme of invited talks covering a range of challenges being addressed by analytical chemistry such as monitoring for pollutants in air and wastewater, analysing compounds in Antarctic ice, to applying analytical technologies in medicine, archaeology as well as the application of machine learning.

Claire White (Selden Research Ltd) chaired an expert panel to discuss experiences of engaging with the broader community and was joined by Melissa Hanna-Brown (University College Cork), Kemi Oloyede (Imperial College London) and Graeme Turnbull (Northumbria University).

Upto 37 PhD students and early career scientists shared their research during the dedicated poster sessions, and prizes were awarded to two poster presenters by RSC journals Analyst and Analytical Methods.

Vicky Hilborne (ARF Scientific Organising Committee) said "The meeting was a great success. The quality of all talks was outstanding, as were the poster presentations. The variety of analytical chemistry applications, from the Amazon rainforest, to Antarctic ice cores, air quality in our own homes and medical diagnostics was inspiring. A huge thanks to the organising committee, not least, the brilliant RSC staff, all of whom are a privilege to work with. Above all, many thanks go to the delegates for joining us, for asking great questions, and making this event such a success. I encourage you to submit oral or poster presentation abstracts for ARF2025."

Meet the prize winners

Zoë Ayres presents the 2024 ARF poster prize winners

Zoë Ayres presents the 2024 ARF poster prize winners: Anjali John (University of Warwick) and Ibrahim Salaudeen (Northumbria University).

Julie MacPherson and Robert Weatherup

RSC Prize winners, Julie MacPherson (University of Warwick) and Robert Weatherup (University of Oxford), were presented with their medals.

Thanks to members of the 2024 Scientific Committee: Zoë Ayres, Vicky Hilborne, Claire White, Leon Barron and Philip Kay, and RSC team: Susan Weatherby, Rosalind Searle and Anne Horan.

The 2025 Analytical Research Forum will be held on 17 June 2025, at Burlington House, London, and online.