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A PhD researcher from the University of Bath has taken Gold in the engineering category at STEM for Britain, recognising innovative work turning waste into sustainable materials.
Joni Wildman received the award at the Houses of Parliament for research showing how fungi can convert used drink cartons into mycelium-based insulation - offering a potential route to recycle hard-to-process materials such as Tetra Pak packaging.
Speaking after the event, she described the experience as an opportunity to showcase how “innovative science can help address real-world challenges,” highlighting the untapped potential of fungi in sustainable materials.
The annual competition brings together early-career researchers from across the UK to present their work to MPs and leading scientists, with winners selected from hundreds of submissions.
Other researchers from Bath were also recognised at the event, presenting work on sunlight-driven materials for water purification and bio-based membranes designed to remove persistent pollutants.
The award highlights growing interest in practical, low-impact solutions to waste and environmental challenges, with bio-based materials emerging as a promising area of research.
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