Held on 26 August 2026, the day before the main conference, the Pre-Conference Battery School is a full-day intensive designed for graduate students, early-career researchers, and new entrants to the battery sector. Through high-quality foundational lectures, hands-on tutorials, and direct industry mentorship, participants build the core knowledge needed for their chosen segment of the battery value chain before joining the wider FIBA 2026 programme.

Programme Components

1. Foundational Lectures
2. Industry Mentorship
3. Networking Reception

Parallel Learning Streams

• Stream A – Battery Materials & Electrochemistry: Fundamentals of cell chemistry and materials.
• Stream B – Cells, Packs & Manufacturing: From cell design to manufacturing scale-up.
• Stream C – Applications: EVs, Grid & Emerging Uses: Deploying batteries in real-world systems.
• Stream D – Recycling, Sustainability & Circular Economy: End-of-life, second life and circularity.

Programme Overview – 26 August 2026

Time	Session / Key Topics
Plenary Sessions
09:00 – 10:00	Registration & Refreshments Badge collection, welcome pack and networking
10:00 – 10:30	Opening & Orientation Official Opening, Welcome Address and Conference Overview
10:30 – 11:20	Foundations of Battery Science - Plenary Lecture I • How a battery works: thermodynamics & kinetics • The battery value chain end to end • Key performance metrics and terminology
Parallel Learning Streams
Time	Stream A	Stream B	Stream C	Stream D
11:30 – 12:50 Foundational Lecture	• Electrode materials & electrolytes • SEI • Ion transport & characterisation	• Cell formats & pack architecture • Electrode coating & assembly • Quality control basics	• EV powertrains & range • Grid & stationary storage • Sizing for the use case	• Battery degradation & end-of-life • Recycling routes overview • Second-life applications
13:00 – 14:00	LUNCH
14:00 – 14:45 Hands-On Tutorial	• Reading a coin-cell datasheet • Capacity & rate calculations • Interpreting voltage curves	• Cell-to-pack design exercise • BMS fundamentals • Thermal management basics	• Duty-cycle modelling • Charging infrastructure • Techno-economic basics	• Life-cycle assessment (LCA) • Material recovery yields • Design for recyclability
14:45 – 15:45 Industry Mentorship	Small-group mentoring with senior researchers and industry experts; CV clinic and career Q&A	Manufacturing & scale-up mentors; pathways into industry roles	Applications & systems mentors; project and funding advice	Sustainability & policy mentors; research-to-impact pathways
Closing & Networking
15:45 – 16:35	Workforce and Talent Dynamics - Plenary Lecture II • Skills demand across the battery value chain • Skills training gaps • Workforce development initiatives
16:35 – 17:00	Closing & Group Photo Wrap-up, certificates of participation and group photograph
17:00 – 19:00	Networking Reception Informal reception with mentors, faculty and fellow participants; soft launch into the main conference. Refreshments will be served.

Notes: All participants select one stream (A–D) for the day; plenary sessions and the reception are shared. Mentorship groups are capped to ensure meaningful interaction. Certificates of participation issued to all attendees.