BCNF Director, Dr Annela Seddon, Teaching Fellow, Dr Ian Lindsay and BCFN PhD student (and UDLAP Alumnus) Abraham Mauleon Amieva, joined Dr Terry McMaster and Dr Kevin Higgins of the BDC for the four-day series of meetings, seminars, panel discussions and workshops aimed at establishing a framework for closer future cooperation between the two universities.

BCFN has pioneered the Bristol connection with UDLAP and other Mexican universities, recruiting 18 Mexican students since 2013, the majority of whom were supported by Mexican government CONACYT scholarships. Many of these students are graduates of the UDLAP undergraduate programme in Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering.

While in Puebla, the BCFN team gave presentations about the BCFN programme, participated in panel discussions covering the role and nature of doctoral training at the two institutions, routes to establishing closer links and approaches and challenges of engaging with government and industry in both Mexico and the UK. The BCFN team also took part in several informal workshop sessions with UDLAP students, discussing their studies, career plans and ambitions and perception of doctoral training. The visit has resulted in plans to trial elements of the BCFN programme at UDLAP in the near future while the two universities continue to work towards the development of a full dual-PhD programme.

BCFN, UDLAP and BDC delegates participated in a series on panel discussions before audiences of UDLAP students and staff. Left to right: Dr. Sergio Picazo (UDLAP), Abraham Mauleon Amieva (BCFN PhD student and UDLAP alumnus), Dr. Kevin Higgins (BDC), Dr. Terry McMAster (BDC), Dr. Annela Seddon (BCFN) and Dr. Miguel Ángel Méndez Rojas (UDLAP).