Each day, millions of us load fresh fruit and flowers into our shopping baskets. The global trade in cut flowers and citrus fruits together are worth about €30bn. When it comes to embracing technology, however, these big businesses tend to remain stuck in the past. 

Heather Kulik embraces computer models as 'the only way to make a dent' in the vast number of potential materials that could solve important problems.

Using nanoparticles that store and gradually release light, engineers create light-emitting plants that can be charged repeatedly.

Sachin Bhagchandani is completing his PhD in chemical engineering and is looking to transition into a mentored, cancer-focused postdoctoral research position – one that draws on his wide-ranging interests and newfound experiences in synthetic chemistry and immunology.

Sharing fond memories as a student of STEM, Anne-Marie Kelleher highlights the importance of education in sparking her own curiosity for chemistry which led her towards a fascinating career. As the head of process and product development at Tyndall National Institute, she highlights how education helped shape her passion for material science and real-life, practical applications of chemistry.

Hydrogen is increasingly seen as an important element of future ‘energy landscape’ and while its production through renewable means offers great promise, it is apparent that such sources may not be sufficient to meet expected demands in the short to medium term. It is important, therefore, to consider how this ‘gap’ may be bridged most responsibly by the efficient use of non-renewable resources, writes UCD's Keelan Glennane.