IULTCS announces winners of leather science grants
The International Union of Leather Technologists and Chemists Societies (IULTCS) has announced the winners of its Young Leather Scientist Grants for 2023.
Under the current IULTCS programme, it awards research grants to three scientists under the age of 35. Its aim is to help support the work of young talent in the leather sector. This is the ninth year in which it has made the awards.
The Tyson Foods Young Leather Scientist grant for basic research has gone to Dr Ilaria Quaratesi from the Leather and Footwear Research Institute (ICPI) in Romania for her work on a project with the title ‘Non-toxic and biodegradable supramolecular additive with flame-retardant and antimicrobial properties for the tanning industry’. The award is for €1,500.
Another of the awards, the Erretre Young Leather Scientist Grant for machinery and equipment, has gone to PhD candidate Vasanth Swaminathan from the SRM Institute of Science and Technology in Chennai, India, for a project called ‘Reduction of carbonisation and gas emissions using mechanotronics-based intelligent laser beam machining, with machine learning, for cutting leather with better environmental measures for operator health’. This award is for €1,000.
Finally, the Dr Mike Redwood Young Leather Scientist grant for sustainability and environmental award has gone to Dr Yue Yu from Sichuan University in China for a project called ‘Controllable oxidation and degradation of lignin via H2O2/O3 from biomass into a retanning agent for sustainable leather manufacturing’. This award is also for €1,000.
Chair of the selection committee, Dr Michael Meyer (pictured), said: “All three project proposals show technological knowledge at a very high level and demonstrate the competitiveness of the leather industry with other industries worldwide. We are very happy that the profile of the Young Leather Scientist Grants continues to grow and thank our sponsors for the support that they continue to give.”
