Grants to Support Knowledge Exchange - Hongna Yuan
Hongna Yuan, 2025 Grant to Support Knowledge Exchange recipient, shares her experience.
In October 2025, I attended the Future Material 2025 — 6th International Conference on Materials Science and Nanotechnology, held in Tenerife, Spain, where I presented my research on MXene-reinforced carrageenan/PVA nanocomposite films. I am sincerely grateful for the support provided from the IOM3 Grants to Support Knowledge Exchange, which made this opportunity possible.
During the conference, I had the opportunity to interact with researchers from various countries. These exchanges introduced me to new perspectives and sparked fresh ideas. In particular, a conversation with Professor Bingqing Wei from the University of Delaware highlighted the real-world challenges of translating academic research into industrial applications. He also offered constructive feedback and suggestions that have been beneficial for both my current work and future research directions.
In addition, I am honoured to have received the Young Researcher Forum Award for my presentation. This recognition was a great encouragement and reinforced my motivation to continue pursuing high-impact, application-oriented research in the field of sustainable materials. This experience has been highly valuable in strengthening both my academic development and future career direction. Once again, this grant is a rewarding opportunity, and I would strongly recommend it to other students pursuing research in the future.
Hongna Yuan
PhD Student, Queen Mary University London
