NGenE 2021: Electrochemistry Is Everywhere

Abstract

In 2016, an Editorial in ACS Nano, entitled “The Rising and Receding Fortunes of Electrochemists”, (1) reflected the growing scientific consensus that existing initiatives in fundamental research were undermatched to the fact that electrochemistry was becoming ubiquitous in applications in energy, thus handicapping progress toward social impact. That same year, Next Generation Electrochemistry (NGenE) hosted its first edition at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). NGenE is an annual summer workshop focused on describing emerging challenges at the frontiers of research in electrochemistry and the application of innovative strategies to address them. The original premise behind NGenE was also that, despite its reach and importance, fundamental electrochemistry had gone through a rather slow period of activity in the early 21st century compared to many companion fields. Back in 2016, one of the causes was ascribed to a deficit in electrochemistry training at the graduate level, (2) (3) leading to calls for increased emphasis in research in this area. (4) Since 2016, NGenE has tackled these deficiencies by broadening the knowledge and perspective of senior graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. A series of world-renowned experts in various walks of electrochemistry examine fundamental phenomena at an advanced level, identifying critical gaps in our understanding and innovative strategies to address them. The program assumes baseline knowledge and prior experience in electrochemistry. NGenE does not ask, “What is electrochemistry?” but instead, “What will electrochemistry become?”. As such, it addresses the very same issues raised in the aforementioned Editorial.