Theme: Climate change and green transformation
Introduction and possible research topics
Climate change and green transformation represent two of the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing our world today. As we confront escalating impacts of climate change, such as severe weather, rising sea levels, and biodiversity loss, the push for green transformation accelerates. Embracing these changes mitigates the adverse effects of climate change, unlocks economic opportunities, promotes energy independence, and fosters a healthier environment for future generations.
This theme aims to gather experts with diverse scientific backgrounds to mitigate climate change and advance the green transformation.
Possible topics to be pursued under this theme include, but are not limited to:
Carbon Capture, Storage, Utilization and Reducing Emissions: Develop technologies to capture carbon dioxide, store it safely, or use it in products (e.g., carbon sequestration crops), reducing the overall carbon footprint, and carbon emissions in industry, agreiculture, and forestry.
Water treatment, Desalination, and Zero (minimum) Liquid Discharge: Develop technologies for desalination, water and wastewater treatment, alongside strategies aimed at achieving zero or minimal liquid discharges.
Electrification and Process Intensification in Industry: Identifying opportunities for electrifying industrial processes traditionally reliant on fossil fuels and employing process intensification strategies to significantly, pollution and energy consumption.
Smart Agriculture and Precision Forestry Solutions: Practices that reduce fertilizer use, optimize water efficiency, decrease environmental footprints, enhance soil carbon sequestration, maximize agriculture crop yields, and facilitate forest management aiming to enhance resilient and increase productivity and all benefits sustainably.
Applicants
Researchers and PhD students from different disciplines that are relevant to the topics are welcome to apply, which may be in the background of biology, chemistry, industrial engineering, plant biotechnology, agriculture, forest sciences, etc.
Dedicated mentors for this theme
Kyu Suk Kang, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Resources, Seoul National University
Ildoo Hwang, Department of Life Sciences, POSTECH
Naser Tavajohi, Department of Chemistry, Umeå University