The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) in Greece is leading a new European COST Action on sustainable aerogels, called SUSTAiROGELs. It is chaired by Professor Patrina Paraskevopoulou of the Department of Chemistry, with Professor Carlos A. García González of the University of Santiago de Compostela as vice-chair.
Aerogels are highly porous, lightweight materials with unusual properties, used in environmental protection, energy, biomedicine and food technology. Sustainable versions are made from renewable resources or waste and by-product streams, supporting a circular economy.
The four-year network already has more than 230 members from 41 countries. It will focus on sustainable-by-design materials, new applications, AI-enabled research and partnerships with industry, and will train early-career scientists through meetings, workshops and training schools.
