2025 Young Persons' Lecture Competition UK final
The Young Persons' Lecture Competition invites students and professionals up to the age of 28 to deliver a short lecture on a materials, minerals, mining, packaging, clay technology or wood science related subject.
Finalists give a 15 minute presentation on a technical topic of their choice and answer questions from a panel of three judges.
The winner will represent the UK at the 2025 Young Persons' World Lecture Competition online final.
Meet the 2025 YPLC UK finalists
tbc
Timetable
| 17:00 | Tea & Coffee |
| 17:30 | Welcome & Introductions |
| 17:40 | YPLC final |
| 19:50 | Drinks reception & networking |
| 20:15 | Results |
| 20:45 | End |
Judging Panel
Michael Kenyon MIMMM - Vice-Chair, SEC Group Vice-Chair
Dr Katie Moore MIMMM - Henry Royce Institute, University of Manchester
Chaired by
Chair, SECC
Dr Ilija Rasovic MIMMM
Chair, SECC
Dr Ilija Rasovic MIMMM
University of Birmingham
Ilija is Associate Professor at the University of Birmingham. He earned his MEng in Materials Science from Corpus Christi College, Oxford, followed by a DPhil in Materials from St Cross College, Oxford. His primary research interests focus on fullerenes and supramolecular systems with particular application in biomedical contexts.
Ilija is an award-winning science communicator, having won IOM3’s international Literature Review Prize in 2016 and finishing second in the Young Persons’ World Lecture Competition in 2017, amongst receiving other best talk prizes at international conferences and scientific meetings. He is also currently Advanced Materials Engineer at P1 Graphene Solutions, having previously worked on placement at Jaguar Land Rover and as a CNC miller for Lesk Engineers.
Ilija is involved in numerous outreach and engagement activities as a STEM ambassador and is committed to both championing Materials Science as a subject and inspiring students of all backgrounds to pursue further study at university. He is a trustee of the newly formed charity, Break Off Labs, whose aim is to widen participation in STEM research.