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December 2025
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In this newsletter
- GETCO2 2025 Conference Highlights
- Hackathon Finale
- Research Program Review
- All Talent All In: Building the Leadership Pipeline for Women in GETCO2
- ALLCO2 - save the date!
- Highly Cited GETCO2 Researchers
- Dr Xiaoli Zhang Recognized Among Australia’s Top 250 Researchers
- Tom Rufford joins Rachel Caruso as Deputy Director
- IMSTEC 2025 - Membrane Workshop
- Welcome Dr Deniz Ertekin
- Welcome New Centre Members
- Upcoming events
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Transform CO2, Transform the Future: GETCO2 2025 Conference Highlights
The 2025 GETCO2 National Conference brought together 110+ researchers, students, and industry professionals at Sydney’s historic Q Station for our largest event yet. Over three days, participants shared research breakthroughs, engaged in a multicultural panel discussion, and networked at a buzzing poster session featuring 50+ projects.We also celebrated excellence through our Centre Awards, recognising achievements in engagement, diversity, and innovation.
By the Numbers : 112 participants , 40 presentations & workshops, 54 research posters, 98% delegates rated the experience as Excellent
Read the full article for award winners and more conference insights, and see some of the beautiful photos by PhD student Hongxia Zhang on Flickr.
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Find out more >> |
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Hackathon Finale: Innovation at its Best!
The GETCO2 National Conference kicked off with the highly anticipated Hackathon finale, where five teams from seven universities tackled the challenge of ‘turning CO₂-to-X’. During the first day, the teams worked with their mentors to refine their pitches, prepare for questions in some friendly ‘coopetition’. The following day, they pitched their innovative ideas to the judging panel and all conference delegates.
Congratulations to our winners!
- First Place: Team CO₂nverters – Kaige Sun, Rizal Evans, Xiaohe Tian, Ronny Pibaque, Jia Li, and Prince Patel. Their innovative electrolyser concept offers farmers an affordable and safe way to produce formic acid without relying on complex infrastructure or supply chains.
- Runner-Up: Team CelluStack – Lei Ge, Yi Sun, Mike Tebyetekerwa, Travis Mitchell, Tommy Hatzimanolis, and Hirusha Jayarathne. Their modular, recyclable electrolyser design impressed with its sustainability and scalability.
The creativity, collaboration, and commitment shown by all participants reaffirm the potential of CO₂ innovation to drive a sustainable future! A special thank you to our mentors, Sahil Garg, Sui Boon Liaw, Leigh Staines, KS Chan, and Leeanne Bond, for guiding the teams through technical challenges and helping shape industry-ready solutions. And to our judges, Anita Hill, Jurg Keller, Gloria Milena Monsalve Bravo, and Jim Snow, for accepting the difficult task of selecting the best pitches.
The Hackathon was supported by our fantastic sponsors Oakley Greenwood Pty Ltd, Woodside Energy and Main Sequence.
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Research Program Review
In our second year of operation, we have initiated a research project review (RPR) across the Centre. This process enables us to evaluate progress toward the Centre’s objectives, identify opportunities for engagement within and beyond the Centre, and ensure compliance with reporting requirements to the ARC. Many thanks to the Chief Investigators and their teams of PhD students and postdoctoral researchers who are participating in the RPR.
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All Talent, All In: Building the Leadership Pipeline for Women in GETCO2
At GETCO2, we believe that great science needs diverse leadership, and when women thrive, the whole Centre benefits. There are very few senior women researchers and role models in our field – and we want to change this dynamic. This year we listened to our early and mid-career female researchers through survey and forums in order to co-design a practical leadership program that supports women across the Centre. We look forward to implementing the All Talent, All In program in 2026.
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Save the Date: ALLCO2 International Conference
The journey to The International CO₂ Alliance Conference (ALLCO2) 2026 has begun - mark your calendars for this global event taking place 1-4 November 2026 on the stunning Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Join global experts to explore cutting-edge research, breakthrough technologies, and collaborative solutions for CO₂ capture and utilisation. At ALLCO2, you will discover the latest research innovations in decarbonisation, connect with leading researchers and industry experts and join a global partnership to tackle CO2 at scale.
Registration and call for abstracts will be coming soon!
For questions, please contact us at getco2@uq.edu.au
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Find out more >> |
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Highly Cited GETCO2 Researchers
Prof Xiwang Zhang, Prof Jianfeng Mao and Prof Chuan Zhao, have all been recognised in Clarivate’s 2025 Highly Cited Researchers Awards!
Making it onto the global “HiCi” list means you are in the top 1% worldwide, based on citations in leading journals over the past decade. This recognition speaks volumes about their impact, dedication, and leadership in advancing science. Congratulations Xiwang, Jianfeng and Chuan!
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Dr Xiaoli Zhang Recognised Among Australia’s Top 250 Researchers
Dr Xiaoli Zhang, Senior Research Fellow at GETCO2 ,RMIT University, working with Professor Rachel Caruso, has been named among Australia’s Top 250 Researchers in the field of nanotechnology — a national honour recognising leading experts who are shaping the future of research in their respective fields.
This distinction reflects Dr Zhang’s outstanding contributions to scientific innovation, sustained research excellence, and national leadership.
A full list of Australia’s Top 250 Researchers can be found here.
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Tom Rufford joins Rachel Caruso as Deputy Director
Chief Investigator Prof Tom Rufford was recently endorsed by our governance committees to be appointed as GETCO2 Deputy Director, Research. Tom will work closely with the Centre Directorate to oversee research strategy and operations.
Importantly, Prof Rufford and Prof Rachel Caruso will co-lead the GETCO2 Research Program Committee.
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IMSTEC 2025 - Membrane Workshop
Supported by GETCO2, the IMSTEC 2025 Post-Conference Workshop on Membrane Innovations for Decarbonisation and Resource Recovery was held on 12 December 2025 at The University of Queensland.
Through a full day of engaging talks and discussions, the workshop featured presentations from leading experts including Prof Menachem Elimelech, Prof Joe Diniz da Costa, Prof Matthew Hill, Prof Sandra Kentish, Prof Alicia An, Prof Huanting Wang and Prof Hokyong Shon, Dr Stefan Herrmann, Dr Xing Wu, Dr Alan Jin, and Dr Zhuyuan Wang. The presentations covered advances in carbon capture, lithium extraction, hydrogen processing, and circular resource recovery enabled by membrane technologies.
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Welcome Dr Deniz Ertekin
Dr Deniz Ertekin has commenced with our operations team in the role of Senior Research Projects Officer. Deniz is working with us while Dr Ifra Marriam is on parental leave.
Deniz joined us at the busiest time of the year - a week or so before our conference - which she handled with ease. Deniz has a PhD in neuroscience and great experience in science communication and engagement.
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New Centre members
We wish all our new centre members a big welcome to the GETCO2 community:
- Associate Investigator Prof Charl Fj Faul,University of Bristol
- Associate Investigator Dr Helena Wang, Then University of Melbourne
- Postdoctoral Research Associate Dr Guoliang Chen, The University of Queensland
- Postdoctoral Research Associate Dr Ming Yong, The University of Queensland
- Postdoctoral Research Associate Dr Mohamed Ibrahim, The University of Queensland
- PhD student Wenming Zhao, The University of Queensland
- PhD student Yifan Hu, University of New South Wales
- Senior Research Project Officer (Professional Staff) Dr Deniz Ertekin, The University of Queensland
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Upcoming events
- 15-20 December 2025: Pacifichem2025, the International Chemical Congress of Pacific Basin Societies, Electrochemical CO2 Capture and Conversion (#CES018); Organisers: Dr Fengwang Li, Prof David Sinton, Assist Prof Dawei Feng, Hawaii
- 19 January 2026: National Youth Science Forum Year 12 Program, laboratory tours, UQ, Brisbane
- 4 September 2026: ISE 2026 Satellite Workshop on Good practices for experimental testing of H2 and CO2 electrolyser materials, cells, and systems. UQ, Brisbane.
- 1-4 November 2026: ALLCO2, the inaugural International CO2 Alliance Conference, Gold Coast
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The ARC Centre of Excellence for Green Electrochemical Transformation of Carbon Dioxide (GETCO2) is supported by the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council.
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The ARC Centre of Excellence for Green Electrochemical Transformation of Carbon Dioxide acknowledges the Traditional Owners and their custodianship of the lands on which the Centre operates.
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