February 5, 2026

Poster Prize Awarded at the Exner Lectures

A Well-Deserved Recognition

We are proud to announce that Anastasiia Naryshkina has been awarded a Poster Prize at the prestigious Exner Lectures, presented by the Wilhelm Exner Medal Foundation, in the category “Significant Milestone.” This distinction recognizes research that demonstrates exceptional scientific quality, innovation, and potential societal impact. The Poster Prizes at the Exner Lectures are awarded to researchers whose work stands out among international contributions and aligns with the foundation’s mission of promoting science and innovation that benefit society and industry. Receiving this award places Anastasiia’s work among a select group of projects recognized for their forward-looking relevance and real-world applicability. Anastasiia’s award-winning research, conducted under the supervision of Dr. Robert Woodward, is a compelling example of how circular bioengineering can bridge cutting-edge science and tangible sustainability solutions.

Advancing Circular Solutions to Global Challenges

The project explores an innovative pathway for addressing two urgent global issues: plastic pollution and water scarcity. By upcycling discarded plastics into high-value functional materials, the research demonstrates how waste polymers can be transformed into advanced sorbent materials for atmospheric water harvesting. This approach goes beyond conventional recycling. Rather than simply reprocessing plastics, it reimagines waste as a resource, closing material loops and extending the functional lifetime of polymers. The result is a scalable and potentially low-cost solution that can contribute to sustainable water production while simultaneously reducing environmental plastic waste.

Circular Bioengineering in Action

The project embodies the core principles of circular bioengineering: minimizing waste, retaining material value, and creating regenerative solutions. By turning a pollution challenge into a resource opportunity, this work illustrates how circular strategies can generate measurable environmental and societal benefits. Research like this highlights the transformative potential of circular bioengineering to support resource-efficient technologies and accelerate the transition toward a more sustainable future. We warmly congratulate Anastasiia Naryshkina on this well-deserved achievement. Her success not only reflects scientific excellence but also reinforces the importance of circular innovation in addressing global sustainability challenges.