Once again, the Warwick Electrochemistry and Interfaces Group hosted 23 young enthusiastic international students participating in the annual 'London International Youth Science Forum' (LIYSF). LIYSF is a two week residential event held at Imperial College London, with lectures and demonstrations from leading scientists, visits to industrial sites, research centres, scientific institutions and organisations, including world class laboratories and universities. LIYSF attracts over 350 of the world's leading young scientists aged 17-21 years old from more than 60 participating countries. There is an active social calendar with events designed to enable those from around the world to learn about different cultures. The scope of LIYSF extends further than broadening scientific understanding to engage students in education on other cultures and develop lasting, international friendships.

The students enjoyed a day full of hands-on activities, giving them a glimpse of the cutting-edge research at the electrochemistry and interfaces group.

This year, LIYSF’s underlying theme is ‘Eureka - Breakthrough and Development in Science’, focussing on exploring the way that we as scientists develop novel solutions and approaches to important challenges.

Small groups of students investigated structural and electrochemical properties of in-house grown carbon nanotube network (CNT), prepared by Sharel. The students got hands-on experience with electrochemical techniques, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). They also got to build dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) devices, measure their performance and realize how closely related they are to photosynthesis! Most important was the interaction between the young visitors and group members who both hugely inspired each other, talking over lunch. We were extremely impressed with the questions asked by the students in attendance.

Big thanks must go to Barak Aaronson and Binoy Paulose Nadappuram for organising the event, and for everyone else involved (Faduma Maddar, Sharel Pei, Maria Adobes-Vidal, Minkyung Kang, Sze-yin Tan, Alexander Parker and Zoë Ayres.

We have hosted the LIYSF for each of the past 11 years and look forward to further visits in the future!