The Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering (CPE) Programme and the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering of NUS jointly organised a technical conference on Advanced Chemical and Membrane Technology – Growth Opportunities in Pharmaceuticals and Life Sciences, Water Reuse, Desalination and Energy Applications. The event spanned two days, on 5 and 6 May 2009. The technical conference featured two notable keynote speakers from the United States of America: Prof Andrew Zydney, Department Head and Walter L Robb Family Chair, Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University and Prof Jerry Y S Lin, Chair of Chemical Engineering, Arizona State University. 

The conference aimed to address the major universal concerns of affordable healthcare, global warming, renewable energy and shortage of clean fresh water. In his address to participants comprising students, academia and industry, Prof Chua Kee Chaing, Vice Dean (Research) of the Faculty of Engineering, welcomed the sharing of research breakthroughs and best practices in pharmaceutical, life sciences, water reuse and clean energy applications to address the challenges mentioned above.

Participants were treated to the latest research insights from four other overseas speakers, namely, Prof Cheng Sixue and Prof Zhang Xianzheng both from Wuhan University, China, who spoke on functional and biodegradable polymers in life sciences and pharmaceuticals. Prof Chang Yung from Chung Yuan Christian University, Taiwan, also presented on anti-biofouling membrane technology for biomedical applications. Prof Jin Wanqin from Nanjing University of Technology, China, introduced his research on ceramic membranes for energy and environmental applications while Dr Tao Guihe from Singapore’s Public Utilities Board shared with the audience how membrane technology was used in developing osmotic membrane bioreactors for water reclamation.

The event was well-received, drawing a strong turnout of more than a hundred for both days, including 12 industry participants from various companies including Sulzer Chemtech, Siemens, Robert Bosch SEA, Eaton Industries, Hyflux and Optiqua Technologies.