ECS student chapters
help connect young scientists to a robust local research network. With nearly 70 chapters established worldwide, students gain access to networking, collaboration, and educational opportunities. The ECS Aalborg University Student Chapter is one of three new chapters chartered by the ECS Board of Directors on March 7, 2017. The chapter’s president, Vaclav Knap, believes establishing the student chapter will help unite students working in the different areas of electrochemical and solid state science.
“The main goal was to bring students together,” Knap says. “At our department, the electrochemical oriented topics, such as batteries, fuel cells, and electrolyzers, are minorities. Therefore the idea was to bring the students from these areas closer together to support each other. Moreover, the ECS chapter is a great platform to further learn, promote our topics, and gain additional skills.”
Knap began forming the ECS Aalborg University Student Chapter in the summer of 2016, shortly after he joined the Society. Much of the inspiration to establish the chapter came when Knap attended the ECS sponsored Advanced Batteries, Accumulators and Fuel Cells (ABAF) Conference, where he was able to interact with ECS members such as Petr Vanysek and Jiri Vondrak and learn of the advantages that student chapters could offer.
“The student chapter gives us a more official frame to work in, which I think makes it easier for extra activities to happen,” Knap says. “We also get support from ECS, which is very valuable. Additionally, you get closer to fellow students and always have somebody you can go to.”
The ECS Aalborg University Student Chapter is currently working to prepare a conference for students, where students will demonstrate their work either by oral or poster presentation. Additionally, Knap is looking to begin bringing in guest lecturers to discuss hot topics in electrochemical and solid state science.
