SP17 Press Release

It was with great honour that BCAST hosted the 6th Decennial Conference on Solidification Processing (SP17) at the Beaumont Estate, Old Windsor, UK, on 25-28 July 2017. The SP series of conferences was established in Brighton in 1967, and then moved to Sheffield for 1977, 1987, 1997 and 2007. Over half a century, it has earned itself a well-deserved name, World Solidification Olympiad.

SP17 brought together solidification scientists, casting engineers and end users from academia and industry to make a fresh and critical examination of the historical approaches to solidification research and casting technology innovation over the last 50 years, and to further identify and discuss and new approaches to the grand challenges in the field for the next 10 years and beyond.

Having an extensive programme attended by over 275 delegates, with 191 oral presentations and 44 poster presentations, SP17 provided a forum for both the pioneers and emerging leaders to voice their views on future opportunities and challenges and to showcase research successes.

SP17 also hosted the 2016 John Hunt Memorial Lecture given by Professor Alain Karma, winner of the John Hunt Medal presented by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining. A farmers market allowed our international guests to get a feel for the seaside and farm cuisine popular with tourists to the UK. Our Gala Dinner, offered the opportunity to thank participants for their contributions, and to honour three long standing members of the solidification community, who had attended the very first SP conference in 1967.

The conference ended with a Round-table Discussion to debate the future directions for solidification science and casting technologies, and to make a strategic assessment of where we are heading for the next 50 years based on a critical examination of what has happened over the last 50 years.

Who will host the next SP conference in 2027 is yet to be decided.