Organised by KAIROS Co-Director Nigel Mason, KAIROS alumnus Duncan Mifsud, and featuring contributions from Kent researchers and students, COPCA 2024 highlighted groundbreaking research in collision physics, astrochemistry, and materials science, fostering global collaboration and innovation.
The KAIROS Research Group played a central role in the COPCA 2024 Conference, held from 15 to 18 October 2024 at the Aula Magna, Valletta Campus, University of Malta. Organised by KAIROS Co-Director Nigel Mason and KAIROS alumnus Dr Duncan Mifsud, now based at HUN-REN Institute for Nuclear Research (ATOMKI), this event brought together global experts in collision physics and chemistry to discuss advancements in radiation chemistry, astrophysics, astrochemistry, and materials science. PhD student Rebekkah Attard-Trevisan from the University of Kent chaired key sessions, further underscoring Kent’s active involvement.
Several KAIROS members delivered impactful presentations, showcasing the breadth of the group’s research contributions:
- Felipe Fantuzzi: Applications of Multiscale Modelling in Astrochemistry and Nanofabrication, highlighting computational methodologies for cosmic and material systems.
- Matthew Dickers: Ice Mantle Formation in the Interstellar Medium: The Deposition Rate Problem, presenting cutting-edge insights into interstellar ice analogues.
- Cauê Souza: Metal Deposition at Room Temperature: Theoretical Investigation of Precursors for Photoassisted Chemical Vapour Deposition, awarded the ECR Presentation Prize.
- Heidy Quitián-Lara: Fragmentation of Complex Organic Molecules: Exploring Pathways to Prebiotic Precursors, connecting astrochemistry to the origins of life.
Adding to the University of Kent’s contributions, Dr Maria Alfredsson presented her work on Advancing the Performance of Li-Ion Batteries Using X-Rays, bridging materials science with high-energy applications.
COPCA 2024 also featured sessions tailored to early-career researchers (ECRs), with Rebekkah Attard-Trevisan chairing impactful discussions. The event successfully fostered interdisciplinary collaborations and showcased Kent and KAIROS’s pivotal roles in advancing collision physics and chemistry research.
As a cornerstone of the global scientific community, COPCA 2024 celebrated the convergence of ideas and research, setting the stage for future advancements. KAIROS and its collaborators are proud to have contributed to the event’s success and look forward to future iterations of this dynamic conference series.