Young ICorr Updates

Young ICorr Updates

Latest News, YEP

The Young ICorr Committee has been hard at work developing many schemes, events, and initiatives to support the early career members of ICorr – here’s an update of what we’re working on and how you can get involved!

Social Buzz: Manchester Pub Quiz Success

Our recent Pub Quiz social event in Manchester was a hit! With a fantastic turnout and glowing feedback, it proved the power of informal networking in bringing young professionals together. Laughter, learning, and lively competition made for an unforgettable evening.

Photos: YICorr Chair Pub Quiz

Other Young ICorr Initiatives
Skills for Corrosionists – Online Training Programme In partnership with the Midlands Branch, we’re launching the Skills for Corrosionists online training series in the new year. These sessions are designed to empower participants with essential non-technical skills, including entrepreneurship, communication, personal branding and leadership, to complement their technical expertise. Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/icorr-skills-for-corrosionists-webinar-series-launch-entrepreneurship-tickets-1838991335589 Expanding Horizons: European Collaborations We are working closely with the EFC to develop Young ICorr and Young EFC events for Eurocorr 2026, boosting our international presence and fostering cross-border collaboration. Regional Engagement: Yorkshire and North-West Young ICorr is also teaming up with the Yorkshire and North-West branches to deliver tailored events for young members – bringing opportunities closer to home and strengthening our regional networks.

Mentorship Matters: Launching Soon
We’re gearing up to launch the Young ICorr Mentorship Scheme, offering structured career guidance and support for early-career professionals. We’re currently seeking mentors and mentees for the pilot phase – if you’re passionate about nurturing the next generation or would like one-to-one guidance in your career, we’d love to hear from you!

Introducing the Young ICorr Awards – Celebrating the Future of Corrosion

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of the Young ICorr Awards, a prestigious new initiative from the Institute of Corrosion that shines a spotlight on the next generation of corrosion professionals. These awards recognise outstanding early-career engineers and scientists who are making significant contributions to corrosion prevention, research, and innovation. With categories including Young Corrosion Engineer of the Year and Young Corrosion Scientist of the Year, this is a unique opportunity to gain national recognition, connect with industry leaders, and accelerate your professional journey. Visit the Young ICorr section of the website to nominate!

Young Engineers Programme (YEP): Global Reach

Following a successful launch at Eurocorr 2025, the Young Engineers Programme has attracted many applicants worldwide – the successful candidates have been chosen, and we’re now focused on assembling a stellar team of mentors, lecturers, and a compelling case study. Interested in contributing? Get in touch!

Sponsorship Drive: Fuelling the Future

To support YEP and Young ICorr’s growing initiatives, we’ve developed a comprehensive sponsorship proposal and are actively engaging with companies to secure funding. This support will be vital in expanding our reach and impact. If you or your company are interested in supporting the future of corrosion, please get in touch!

The Young ICorr Committee is buzzing with activity and ambition. We’re always open to new collaborations and welcome anyone interested in joining our journey. For further information about YICorr activities, please contact: Dr Kathleen Purnell
Email: youngicorrchair@icorr.org

Corrosion Science Division (CSD) Updates

Corrosion Science Division (CSD) Updates

Institute News, Latest News

The 67th Corrosion Science Symposium (CSS) was held jointly with Electrochem2025 at the University of Northumbria, between the 31st August and 2nd September 2025. The CSS has been held annually since its launch in 1960 by Prof. L.L. Shreir.

The symposium is always an ideal opportunity for students and early-career researchers in corrosion science from across the UK and Europe to congregate, discuss their work, share ideas and, above all, enjoy themselves in a stimulating/friendly environment. This year there were 10 talks and 13 posters, and the UR Evans award plenary talk was given by Prof. Herman Terryn (Vrije University, Brussels).

Photo: Plenary Lecture by Professor Ritu Kataky.

In his plenary lecture, Prof. Herman Terryn (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) explores why this goal has long seemed utopian—and how recent advances are bringing it closer to reality. The quest to accurately predict the lifetime of metals remains one of the most pressing challenges in corrosion science. Current industry practice relies on accelerated laboratory tests and long-term field exposure to estimate durability. However, laboratory tests often fail to replicate real-world conditions, while field trials can take up to a decade, slowing innovation. Prof. Terryn’s research aims to bridge this gap by developing a comprehensive platform for predicting the long-term performance of organic-coated metals under realistic environmental ageing. His team combines cutting-edge electrochemical techniques, in situ surface analysis, and advanced finite element modelling, now enhanced with sensors and machine learning. The lecture also introduces VIPCOAT, an EU Horizon 2020 project creating an open innovation platform to design sustainable coating systems and accelerated life tests. Initially targeting aeronautics, VIPCOAT will expand to other sectors, leveraging standardised European Materials Modelling Ontologies. The plenary talk expertly underscored a paradigm shift: from empirical testing toward data-driven, predictive corrosion science, thus paving the way for more sustainable and efficient materials design. 

Photo: UR Evans Award to Professor Herman Terryn by ICorr President Dr Yunnan Gao.

Highlights from Electrochem2025: Advances in Corrosion Science The Corrosion Science and Engineering symposium at Electrochem2025 featured several outstanding contributions. Harry Tookey (University of Leeds) presented an insightful study on the effect of salinity on corrosion product characteristics and inhibitor performance in geothermal environments. His work demonstrated how varying NaCl concentrations influence FeCO3 formation on X65 carbon steel and inhibitor efficiency, offering practical guidance for corrosion control in high-salinity systems.

Anjali John (University of Warwick) gave a talk on the initial stages of anodic corrosion of boron-doped diamond electrodes. Using advanced in situ and ex situ techniques, her research provided a rare glimpse into early corrosion mechanisms under extreme electrochemical oxidation conditions, critical for improving electrode durability in advanced oxidation processes.

Photo: Talk by Anjali John (University of Warwick).

Mohammadhasan Sarabchi (University of Leeds) addressed the challenge of corrosion inhibition in geothermal systems with his presentation on optimising multi-component surfactant mixtures. By combining kinetic modelling with electrochemical testing, he identified formulations that deliver rapid adsorption and strong persistence, paving the way for more sustainable and effective inhibitor strategies. These talks exemplify the innovative approaches currently providing new insights in corrosion science – bridging fundamental understanding with real-world applications.

Photo: Mohamadhasan Sarabchi – Corrosion Inhibitors & Geothermal Energy EPSRC Researcher at University of Leeds.

Harry Tookey was awarded the Shreir Prize 2025 for the best early career research presentation.

Photo: Harry Tookey 

For further information about Corrosion Science Division (CSD) activities, please contact: Julian Wharton (Chair) Email: csdchair@icorr.org