09 November, 2013
Organizers:
Nikos Hadjichristidis, Yves Gnanou and Jean M. J. Fréchet
KAUST Hosts Polymer Conference Nov. 9-13
International scientists met to discuss cutting edge topics in contemporary polymer science and technology Nov. 9-13 at the high-level KAUST Polymer Conference. The event was organized by Chemical Science Prof. Nikos Hadjichristidis, Physical Science and Engineering Dean Yves Gnanou, and Vice President of Research Jean Fréchet with the support of the Office of Competitive Research Funds and the KAUST Catalysis Research Center. More than 150 polymer scientists and students attended.
“Polymeric materials play an essential and ubiquitous role in all aspects of our everyday life. Their production, processing and application are particularly significant to today’s petrochemical industry,” said Prof. Fréchet. “SABIC, the largest petrochemical company in the world is extremely important to the Kingdom’s economy. KAUST, one of its research partners, is committed to expanding polymer science.”
“Polymers are very important in KAUST research in the four thrusts : as membranes in water research, solar cells and petrochemicals in energy research, CO2 capture and use as feedstock in environmental research, and packaging and green housing in food research, to name just a few,” said Prof. Hadjichristidis. “This conference, highlighting the newest research and technology in the field, gave KAUST scientists a chance to demonstrate their research and to learn from some of the top people in the field.”
Sixteen invited world renowned polymer scientists from around the globe and eleven KAUST scientists presented their research to the assembly. A highlight of the conference was a poster session bringing together 30 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows from around the world.
“Renowned scientists who attended the conference were very enthusiastic about the conference and the research being conducted at KAUST,” said Dean Gnanou. “They will be very effective ambassadors for the University.”
Photo Gallery (Click here)
Program (Click here)
Invited Speakers:
Markus Antonietti - Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Germany
Frank Bates - University of Minnesota, USA
Redouane Borsali - Centre de Recherches sur les Macromolécules Végétales, France
Geoffrey W. Coates - Cornell University, USA
Dave Haddleton - University of Warwick, UK
Olli Ikkala - Aalto University, Helsinki, Finland
Ronald G. Larson - University of Michigan, USA
Dave Lohse - ExxonMobil, New Jersey, USA
Krzysztof Matyjaszewski - Carnegie Mellon University, USA
Jimmy Mays - University of Tennessee, USA
E.W. (Bert) Meijer - Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands
Martin Möller - University of Aachen, Germany
Axel Müller - University of Mainz, Germany
Christopher K. Ober - Cornell University, USA
Virgil Percec - University of Pennsylvania, USA
Atieh Abu Raqabah - SABIC, KSA
Mitsuo Sawamoto - Kyoto University, Japan
Dimitris Vlassopoulos - University of Crete, Greece
Speakers from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
Jean M.J. Fréchet
Yves Gnanou
Jean‐Marie Basset
Igor Pinnau
Klaus‐Viktor Peinemann
Luigi Cavallo
Suzanna Nunes
Pierre M. Beaujuge