Program
International Materials Education Symposium 2026

April 15-16, 2026

The Symposium will be held at The Clare College Gillespie Conference Centre in the University of Cambridge. Address: Memorial Court, Queens' Rd, Cambridge CB3 9AJ, UK

Directions:

From the rail station: Cambridge rail station is about 1.5 miles from the College—a 10-minute taxi-ride, although it may take longer at peak periods (ask for “Memorial Court, Clare College”). For bus connections, take a bus to the city center.
From the bus station: Cambridge bus station is about a 15-minute walk, or 5-minute taxi-ride (ask for “Memorial Court, Clare College”) in clear traffic from Clare College.
On arrival, report to the Porters’ Lodge at the Memorial Court.

Tentative Program for the International Materials Education Symposium (subject to modifications)

Symposium Day One: Speaker’s list, April 15

8:15 - 8:50	Coffee and Snacks
8:50	Welcome Address Graham McShane, University of Cambridge Paloma Fernández Sánchez University Complutense, Madrid
9:00	Session 1: Designing for Social and Environmental Sustainability: Inclusivity, Equity, Materials, and Education – Chair Nicolas Martin
9:00	Keynote Barbara Pollini, Aalto University, Teaching sustainability through material experimentation
9:30	Christina Picken, University of Manchester, Designing Greener Polymers - and Greener Polymer Scientists
9:50	Poster Session Teaser
10:20	Coffee Break & Poster Session
11:10	Hannes Geist, INATECH, University of Freiburg, Circularity mindset in materials education: Is the theory we teach mature enough?
11:30	Tim Huber, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology Trashform: A Hands-On Materials and Sustainability Challenge for High Schools
11:50	Session Discussion and Q&A, Chair
12:20	Lunch Break & Symposium Photograph
14:00	Session 2: Materials science within multidisciplinary education – holistic program review – Chair Kaitlin Tyler
14:00	Keynote: Joana Martins, TU Delft, Biodesign Across the Curriculum: Experiences from an Integrated Product Design MSc
14: 30	Barbara Del Curto, Politecnico di Milano, Materials Education and Design Culture: An Educational and Exhibition Path Inspired by the Work of Horacio Pagani
14: 50	Suazlan Mt Aznam, International Islamic University Malaysia, Enhancing Conceptual Understanding Through Simulation-Supported Learning in Early Undergraduate Engineering Courses
15:10	Erika Tuneskog, Chalmers University of Technology, Product development by additive manufacturing: A Project-Based Approach to Design Optimization for Additive Manufacturing
15:30	Coffee Break & Poster Session
16:00	Paloma Fernández Sánchez, University Complutense, Madrid, Lost in Translation: From Professor’s Brain to Student’s Eyes and Ears
16:20	Telesilla Bristogianni (presenter), Fred Veer (author) TU Delft, The relationship between dinosaurs, dodo’s, giraffes, steel I beams and EduPack
16:40	Xiaolei Feng, Nanyang Technological University, Do I have to memorise this? Rethinking how we teach crystal structures
17:00	Session Discussion and Q&A, Chair
	End of Day 1

Symposium Dinner

The symposium dinner will be hosted at Clare College. Address: Trinity Ln, Cambridge CB2 1TL

Pre-dinner reception/drinks will start at 7:00pm
Dinner will be served in the Dining Hall at 7:45pm

Symposium Day Two: Speaker’s list, April 16

8:45	Coffee and snacks
9:15	Session 3: Knowledge, competences & skills in Materials for employability in industry – Paloma Fernández Sánchez, Universidad Complutense de Madrid
9:15	Keynote Julian Dean, Sheffield University, Including inclusivity into learning: A materials science and engineering tutor project
9:45	Patricia Munoz Escalona, University of Manchester, Integrating Sustainability Practices as a Platform to Develop Global Competences in Materials Science and Engineering Education
10:05	Coffee Break and poster session
10:50	Daphiny Pottmaier, Nottingham Trent University , Building a Sustainability Lexicon for Employability: from Bill of Materials to Ecological Design Audits
11:10	Itai Vutabwarova, University of Sheffield AMRC , Reframing Employability in Materials Education Through Industry Integrated Degree Apprenticeships
11:30	Marie Beth Benbenek, Cambridge University , Learning outcomes and curriculum theories: Defining what students should know and be able to do
11:50	Session Discussion and Q&A, Chair
12:10	Lunch Break
13:30	Session 4: Risk, responsibilities, ethics and potential of AI in education – Chair Alison Harvey, university of manchester
13:30	Steffen Ritter, Reutlingen University, Homo Hapticus rediscovered – Why learning with real-life examples and haptic feedback increases your learning success
13:50	Zied Hosni, University College London Listening to Students about AI, Inclusion and Research: Towards Neuro-inclusive, AI-aware Materials Education
14:10	Claes Fredriksson, University West, How to Introduce AI in Materials Teaching
14:30	Mengyan Nie, University College London, Effective approach for teaching materials corrosion fundamentals with well engaged students learning experience
14:50	Session Discussion and Q&A, closing remarksChair
15:10	End of Symposium