From July 18 to 20, the International Seminar on "Low-Carbon Processes and Intelligent Design" was held at our university. The seminar attracted more than 50 experts and scholars from top-tier institutions worldwide, including the University of Edinburgh (UK), Technical University of Denmark, Luleå University of Technology (Sweden), University of Cagliari (Italy), Jilin University, and Southeast University. Focusing on the two core themes of low-carbon processes and intelligent design, the event brought together global wisdom to explore pathways for the sustainable development of the chemical engineering industry. Vice President Gu Xuehong attended and delivered an opening speech, while the seminar was co-chaired by Professor Lu Xiaohua and Professor Zhu Jiahua from the School of Chemical Engineering.

During the seminar, Professor Lu Xiaohua presented insights on photoelectrochemical engineering under the carbon neutrality background, based on fundamental thermodynamic principles. Professor Zhu Jiahua focused on carbon dioxide capture and chemical conversion, introducing how microwave technology facilitates the reconstruction of low-carbon processes. Distinguished scholars including Professor Aatto Laaksonen from Stockholm University (Sweden), Professor Georgios Kontogeorgis from Technical University of Denmark, and Professor Ji Yuanhui from Southeast University shared their research findings on the pivotal roles of bio-based materials, industrial thermodynamic models, and artificial intelligence in low-carbon process design, respectively. Professor Ji Xiaoyan from Luleå University of Technology (Sweden) reviewed the over-a-decade-long close cooperation and student training achievements between China and Sweden, and explored approaches to deepen international collaboration.

During the seminar, experts and scholars from various countries visited the State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, gaining an understanding of the university’s strengths in the integration of science, industry, and education. They also conducted on-site inspections of the Changzhou Solar-Tea Complementary Project and the National Pilot and Demonstration Project of Salt Cavern Compressed Air Energy Storage in Jintan District, and visited companies including BETTERON (Changzhou) New Materials Co., Ltd. and CALB Group Co., Ltd. They were deeply impressed by the vigorous development and strong sense of corporate responsibility of Chinese enterprises in the new era. This event further strengthened the connections and cooperation between the academic and industrial sectors at home and abroad, laying a solid foundation for promoting the technological transformation and application of the chemical engineering industry in the fields of low carbon and intelligence.

Author: College of Chemical Engineering; Photographer: Wei Wei; Reviewers: Ju Yonggan, Zhu Jiahua