Hub of Talents: Sustainable Materials for Circular Economy and PETROMAT joined forces with top Thai and Japanese institutions to drive materials innovation at “The International Conference on Functional Crystalline and Sustainable Materials.”

The event was hosted by the Department of Materials Science, Faculty of Science, and The Petroleum and Petrochemical College, Chulalongkorn University, in collaboration with the Institute for Aqua Regeneration, Shinshu University, on October 6, 2025, at Chula.

The conference brought together more than 120 participants from academia and industry, featuring 32 oral and 34 poster presentations across five main themes—from crystal growth and catalysts to diverse materials applications.

In the Bio-Based Materials session, Professor Hathaikarn Manuspiya, Head of HubSustainMat, presented “From Nature to Nanotech: Unlocking the Potential of Bacterial Cellulose,” showcasing how nanotechnology can upcycle natural materials into high-value sustainable innovations and advance the circular economy.