@article{20664,
  abstract     = {Conference travel contributes to the climate footprint of academic research. Here, we provide a quantitative estimate of the carbon emissions associated with conference attendance by analyzing travel data from participants of 10 international conferences in the field of magnetic resonance, namely EUROMAR, ENC and ICMRBS. We find that attending a EUROMAR conference produces, on average, more than 1 t CO2 eq.. For the analyzed conferences outside Europe, the corresponding value is about 2–3 times higher, on average, with intercontinental trips amounting to up to 5 t. We compare these conference-related emissions to other activities associated with research and show that conference travel is a substantial portion of the total climate footprint of a researcher in magnetic resonance. We explore several strategies to reduce these emissions, including the impact of selecting conference venues more strategically and the possibility of decentralized conferences. Through a detailed comparison of train versus air travel – accounting for both direct and infrastructure-related emissions – we demonstrate that train travel offers considerable carbon savings. These data may provide a basis for strategic choices of future conferences in the field and for individuals deciding on their conference attendance.},
  author       = {Kapoor, Lucky and Ruzickova, Natalia and Zivadinovic, Predrag and Leitner, Valentin and Sisak, Maria A and Mweka, Cecelia N and Dobbelaere, Jeroen A and Katsaros, Georgios and Schanda, Paul},
  issn         = {2699-0016},
  journal      = {Magnetic Resonance},
  number       = {2},
  pages        = {243--256},
  publisher    = {Copernicus Publications},
  title        = {{Quantifying the carbon footprint of conference travel: The case of NMR meetings}},
  doi          = {10.5194/mr-6-243-2025},
  volume       = {6},
  year         = {2025},
}

@phdthesis{18588,
  abstract     = {This thesis is an experimental work about two distinct research projects that evolved from a single project: non-equilibrium dynamics of an acoustically vibrated particle and microfabrication of particles with nano-scale 3D printing. The first project explores non equilibrium dynamics of a particle driven by ultrasonic vibrations. We design an experimental system consisting of an electromechanical vibration scheme to drive the particle’s vibrations and an imaging scheme to track its trajectories. We study the trajectories to determine how the particle’s dynamics evolve under the driven conditions, considering out of equilibrium systems in the context of equilibrium statistical mechanics. Using a Langevin framework and the Boltzmann factor, we characterize the particle’s dynamics as complex; the particle motion
is not purely diffusive. We extract physical parameters like spring constant, effective temperature, damping coefficient and resonance frequency.

In the second project, we explore and develop techniques in the design and microfabrication of particles across scales. Microfabrication involves building structures at the micron or submicron scale. These designed miniaturized patterns, objects, or devices are useful in biophysics, pharmacology, medical biology, and nanotechnology. We specifically apply two-photon polymerization, a form of 3D nano printing. We print millimetric particles, characterizing different designs to evaluate and showcase the resolution, aspect ratio integrity and print quality of the printing process. We also design and fabricate a microsensor to deflect under applicable force of order 0.1 pN. We present fundamental concepts needed to design the microsensor, showcasing 3D printing at considerably smaller scales down to the µm or below.},
  author       = {Mweka, Cecelia N},
  issn         = {2791-4585},
  pages        = {61},
  publisher    = {Institute of Science and Technology Austria},
  title        = {{Non equilibrium dynamics of driven individual particles and 3D printing across scales}},
  doi          = {10.15479/at:ista:18588},
  year         = {2024},
}