The school is addressed to students and researchers both from industry and academic institutions and is open to all with an interest in the structure and dynamics of reprocessable polymer networks, i.e., polymeric networks other than the permanently crosslinked ones (known as thermosets). The school will focus on networks with dynamic, i.e., temporary crosslinks, that can then be reprocessed and recycled (entangled networks, associating networks, vitrimers, etc.). It aims at covering all aspects of these reprocessable networks (experimental, theoretical and computational) in a lively and open environment.

The school is organized by 3 SoftComp members: Giovanni Ianniruberto (University of Naples, Italy), Evelyne van Ruymbeke (UCL, Belgium) and Dimitris Vlassopoulos (FORTH-Crete, Greece). It is also worth emphasizing that the school will particularly focus on vitrimers, a class of materials that was invented by a SoftComp team (ESPCI).

The confirmed lecturers are:
Quan Chen, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, CINA
Ralph H. Colby, Pennsylvania State University, USA
Emanuela Del Gado, Georgetown University, USA
Filip Duprez, University of Gent, Belgium
Nikos Hadjichristidis, KAUST, Saudi Arabia
Fardin Khabaz, University of Akron, USA
Xiang Li, Hokkaido University, Japan
Mario Minale, Università della Campania, Italy

Tasuku Nakajima, Hokkaido University, Japan
Thomas O’Connor, Carnegie Mellon University, USA
Ralm Ricarte, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Tallahassee, USA
Michael Rubinstein, Duke University, USA
Hiroshi Watanabe, Kyoto University, Japan & Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, China

All speakers are world-leaders in the field.

The expected number of school participants is 50. The registration deadline is 31 January 2025 (subject to
availability of places).

The registration fee is 450€. It covers expenses for lecture notes, coffee + lunch breaks, welcome reception and school dinner.

For more information please check the School web portal.