From March 4th to 8th, 2019, Prof. Paul Topham form Aston University in the United Kingdom was invited by South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology (AISMST)to give a short course for 5 days titled Research in Polymer Nanotechnology.

Prof. Topham’s course is divided into five parts, giving the thorough, systematical and detailed explanation to the preparation methods, the characterization techniques, the performance and applications of polymer, with the emphasis on the points in the X-ray diffraction technology and its application in the field of polymer materials, and polymer nano-technology and self-assembly process from the perspective of polymer physics.

Prof. Topham is the director of the Aston Institute of Materials Research of Aston University. His research focuses onwell-defined polymer systems, including “smart” polymers, biocompatible and biodegradable materials and tethered polymer brushes. Current research interests include organic solar cells, rubber technology, Smart Cities, electrospinning, microphase separation, polymer fibres and water purification.

At the same time, Prof. Topham is a visiting professor at South China University of Technology. Prof. Topham and students had abundant exchange in the field of polymer Nanotechnology at AISMIT, which is beneficial to the international cooperation and development of SCUT.