The Fuel Cells GRC is a premier, international scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages. The conference program includes an array of speakers and discussion leaders from institutions and organizations worldwide, concentrating on the latest developments in the field. The conference is five days long and held in a remote location to increase the sense of camaraderie and create scientific communities, with lasting collaborations and friendships. In addition to premier talks, the conference has designated time for poster sessions from individuals of all career stages, and afternoon free time and communal meals allow for informal networking opportunities with leaders in the field.
This year’s Fuel Cells GRC serves to be a leading venue for sharing new findings and emerging trends in fuel cell research, bolstered by robust and thoughtful discussions by both established research leaders and early-career scientists with new perspectives. The conference program blends the spectrum of fundamental science of electrocatalysis and polymer chemistry with the critical challenges of commercial fuel cell deployment by industry. Thus, the meeting provides an informal and intimate opportunity for academic, national laboratory, and industry researchers to engage with each other and identify new opportunities to advance the field.
Specific areas of interest in this year’s program include the synthesis of new catalysts and novel catalyst support materials, fundamental and applied aspects of transitioning to alternative fluorine-free polymer electrolytes, electrode formulation, multi-scale simulation, high-throughput experimentation and machine learning, and advanced imaging and analytical methods. Sessions on the scale-up of catalyst synthesis, electrode fabrication, and cell manufacturing will provide valuable perspectives on research opportunities in commercializing fuel cells. The conference will include perspectives on the current state of fuel cell deployments and an exploration of alternative fuel cells for emerging applications that can benefit from fuel cells’ high efficiency, high power and energy densities, low temperature operation, and low pollutant emissions.
In addition to the technical program, the Fuel Cells GRC provides a unique experience for attendees with group meals, afternoon outdoor and social activities, and evening social events to continue the conference discussions and build network connections. An essential component of the meeting is the poster session that includes student poster awards. Attendees are encouraged to present a poster, increasing the diversity of research presented at the meeting and adding new perspectives and insights.
