Creating a platform where leading researchers from various disciplines can exchange ideas and establishing new collaborations in the fields of energy, catalysis, and medicine. This was the primary goal of the international conference EU-ASIA Workshop on Sustainable Technologies, which was organized in early September at VSB-TUO by the CEET Materials and Envi Lab (MEL) in cooperation with the Czech Centre for Advanced Technologies and Engineering (CATEN). Participants described the conference as a success, praising both the high-quality speakers and the broad range of topics.
“Interdisciplinary collaboration is crucial if we are to address global challenges such as climate change, the energy crisis, and the fight against diseases. That is why we invited experts in organic chemistry, materials science, catalysis, physics, and computational chemistry. The conference not only highlighted state-of-the-art science but also reinforced cooperation with partners across Asia and Europe, laying the groundwork for long-term partnerships, joint projects, and student exchanges,” stated Yazhou Zhou, one of the event’s main organizers, who recently joined MEL from the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz, Germany.
This prestigious institution was headed for twenty years by the main guest of the conference and new scientific reinforcement at MEL, Professor Klaus Mülllen. Among the ten most cited chemists worldwide, he received an honorary professorship from Emeritus Rector Vaclav Snasel and delivered the opening lecture entitled Carbon Nanostructures by Design.
“Professor Klaus Mülllen supervised and mentored me during my postdoctoral work at the Max Planck Institute. Professor Akimitsu Narita, my former group leader, remains a close collaborator and continues to support my work. I have also been cooperating with Professor Guangbo Chen on hydrogen technologies for over seven years, and our joint efforts have already yielded significant results,” Zhou emphasized, illustrating the importance of scientific networks. Research outcomes from VSB-TUO were further showcased by prominent Czech researchers, including Radek Zboril, Michal Otyepka, Martin Pumera, and Vaclav Snasel.
“We identified numerous synergistic opportunities with leading researchers from European and Asian universities and institutes, which we aim to develop into joint research projects. Our colleagues were impressed by MEL’s advanced materials research facilities and plan to incorporate some of our cutting-edge technologies into their future studies,” noted MEL head Radek Zboril. The conference was supported by the REFRESH project and the European initiatives San4Fuel and MERGE.
