SCGC-FIRST 2025–2026 awardees will support cutting-edge sustainability research

The Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences (MPLS) Division, in collaboration with SCG Chemicals Public Company Limited (SCGC), is delighted to announce the successful projects awarded funding through the SCGC Fund for Innovation and Research in Sustainability and Technology (SCGC-FIRST) 2025–2026 (Third Round).

SCGC-FIRST is a University-administered fund designed to support visionary and transformative research tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges in sustainability, energy, materials and advanced technologies. Now in its third round, the scheme continues to enable ambitious, outcomes-driven projects with strong potential for real-world impact, while further strengthening the long-standing strategic partnership between the University of Oxford and SCGC.

Following a highly competitive selection process, three outstanding projects have been awarded funding this year. The successful proposals demonstrate exceptional scientific excellence, originality and a strong alignment with the core aims of SCGC-FIRST.

Professor Reece Oosterbeek, Associate Professor of Engineering Science and a member of the Solid Mechanics and Materials Engineering Group, will lead one of the successful projects in 'Advancing sustainable plastics through AI':

AIM-HIGH: AI-enabled Modification of HIGH-performance recycled polymer formulations.

Addressing a critical challenge in plastics sustainability, the project focuses on improving the inconsistent performance and low recycling rates of polypropylene. By combining artificial intelligence with advanced materials testing and additive manufacturing, AIM-HIGH aims to develop scalable workflows for recycled polymers with predictable, high-performance properties. The research has the potential to significantly reduce plastic waste while enabling recycled materials to be used in demanding industrial applications.

The other successful projects are:

Professor Meera Mehta, Associate Professor of Inorganic Chemistry and Tutorial Fellow at Trinity College, will lead Bridging the Gap: From Pnictogen Clusters to Heterogeneous Red Phosphorus.

Professor Paul McGonigal, Professor of Organic Chemistry and Courtenay Phillips Fellow of Merton College, will lead Organic ionic materials for energy-efficient machine learning devices.

The SCGC-FIRST Prioritisation Panel thanks all applicants for the exceptional quality of submissions and acknowledges the panel members for their careful and considered assessments. The selected projects exemplify the breadth, ambition and interdisciplinary strength of research across the MPLS Division and are expected to deliver meaningful scientific and societal impact over the coming year.