British Zeolite Association:
Background and Information

The BZA was formed in 1977 in order to provide a forum where zeolite scientists could meet to review and share their latest findings. Today the zeolite community in the UK numbers several hundred active research scientists and engineers, from both industry and the academic sector, who reflect the great variety of applications of microporous materials, from catalysis and petrochemical processing to chemical separations, detergents and environmental clean-up.

Conferences

The major event of the BZA's year is the annual meeting which brings together scientists from the UK and overseas to present and discuss the latest research in the area. Every third year the meeting takes the form of a week-long Gordon style conference which is usually held in August at an attractive campus venue. In the intervening years a shorter conference is organised in the spring.

A special feature of the conferences is the strong emphasis given to presentations from research students and young postdoctoral workers.

The Summer 2009 Gordon-style conference was held in Ambleside in the English Lake District.
The next BZA annual conference will be held in Southampton, in March 2010.

Student Support

Each year, a number of bursaries are available to assist graduate students in attending conferences. The bursaries are intended to cover travel and accommodation expenses, and require that the student (i) is a member of the BZA, (ii) applies in advance and (iii) subsequently submits a review of the conference for publication in Template. The maximum value of a bursary depends on funds available and on whether the student is presenting his/her work at the conference. Further details are available on the bursaries web page, or from the BZA secretary, Prof. Craig Williams

Barrer Award

Named in honour of the late Prof. Richard Barrer, this prize is awarded every three years by the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Society for Chemical Industry, in consultation with the BZA, for the most meritorious recent pure or applied work in the field of porous inorganic materials. The recipient must be under the age of 37. The 2008 winner was Dr Ben Slater (pictured right) of University College London for his innovative contributions to the development and application of computer modelling techniques to the science of microporous materials, especially relating to the surface properties of these materials and to the mechanisms of crystal growth. Further information on the Barrer award is avaliable from the RSC Web site.

FEZA

The BZA is a member of the Federation of European Zeolite Associations (FEZA), which comprises groups from many european countries (currently Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain and the UK). FEZA organises a triennial conference as well as a series of workshops on specific topics within zeolite science. It also awards an annual prize to the best work carried out as part of a PhD project. Further details will be made available shortly.

Membership

Membership of the BZA costs £5 per annum.There is a life membership rate of £50. Usually the fees will be paid at the same time as registration for the annual conference. At other times the BZA secretary, Prof. Craig Williams, will be happy to receive applications for membership.