Symposium on Innovative Environmental Solutions for Accelerating Low Carbon Transition on 17 Sep 2024
On 17 September 2024, NERI had the pleasure of organizing a half-day Symposium on Innovative Environmental Solutions for Accelerating the Low-Carbon Transition. This symposium is one of over 30 events under NUS Sustainability CONNECT Highlight.
Due to the overwhelming response—over 250 registered participants—many from agencies and industry—the symposium was conducted in a hybrid format, allowing in-person and online attendees to engage with distinguished speakers from PUB, NUS, TÜV SÜD AG, and UCLA. The discussions showcased cutting-edge solutions for the low-carbon transition, including nature-based solutions, advancements in carbon capture, low-energy water treatment technologies, waste-to-resource transformations, and green financing.
Prof. Low Teck Seng, Senior Vice President (Sustainability and Resilience), and Assoc Prof. Sanjay Swarup, Director of NERI at NUS, welcomed the participants. Prof. Low provided an overview of NUS Sustainability CONNECT Week, while Prof. Swarup highlighted the Symposium's aim of serving as a platform for sharing valuable insights and fostering meaningful discussions on strategies to tackle the complex challenges of decarbonization.
A panel discussion chaired by Asst. Prof. Iris Yu from the NUS Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering delved into the key challenges and strategies for implementing carbon reduction solutions.
The symposium concluded on a high note, with Prof. Koh Lian Pin, Associate Vice President and NUS Chief Sustainability Scientist at NUS, delivering the closing remarks. He summarized the key takeaways and emphasized the need for collective efforts to translate innovative ideas into actionable strategies and scalable solutions, reinforcing the collaborative spirit of the event.
The event also featured 4 project showcases, whereby participants had the opportunity to view, interact, and gather information from the respective research teams of the projects. The projects showcased were:
- Real-Time Biofilm Detection: Boosting Water Pipeline Efficiency for a Low-Carbon Future [PI, Prof Hu Jianyong, CEE]
- Evaluating the Environmental Benefits of Using Recycled Waste Plastic in Road Construction [PI, Assoc Prof Raymond Ong, CEE]
- Science-based Solutions for Restoring Carbon-rich Tropical Peatlands [PI, Assoc Prof Sanjay Swarup, DBS]
- Adsorbents for CO2 Capture [PI, Assoc Prof Zhao Dan, ChBE]
Thank you to all the speakers and participants for making the event successful!
Featured Speakers:
- Dr. Thawatchai Maneerung, TÜV SÜD AG
- Dr. Gurdev Singh, PUB
- Prof. Tong Yen Wah, NERI and CDE, NUS
- Prof. Hu Jiangyong, NERI and CDE, NUS
- Assoc. Prof. Johan Sulaeman, Director of SGFIN, NUS
- Assoc. Prof. Sanjay Swarup, NERI and DBS, NUS
- Assoc. Prof. Zhao Dan, CDE, NUS
- Assoc. Prof. Zhang Sui, NERI and CDE, NUS
- Prof. Gaurav N. Sant, UCLA
Panel Discussion Chairperson: Asst. Prof. Iris Yu, NERI and CDE, NUS
Event Emcee: Dr He Meibo, NERI, NUS
