The Global Sustainable Development Congress
Lingnan’s key role at Global Sustainable Development Congress
Lingnan University is set to play a prominent role at the upcoming Global Sustainable Development Congress organised by Times Higher Education (THE). The high-profile event will take place in Bangkok from June 10-13, 2024 and its aim is to discuss progress towards meeting the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
These were adopted in 2015 to address the world’s environmental, social and economic challenges and provide a framework for action on climate change, health and well-being, quality education, and much else.
The Congress, which will be co-hosted by Thailand’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, will bring together roughly 3,000 international thought leaders. They will be given the chance to discuss what universities, governments, businesses and civil society must now do to create a greater sense of urgency in putting ideas into action. Participants will be encouraged to challenge conventional thinking and, in particular, to show how breakthrough research, innovative approaches, new technologies and outreach programmes can achieve meaningful change and lasting transformation.
The Congress agenda includes several core tracks, and Lingnan will feature in the one on “Digital Revolution for Sustainable Development”. This ties in well with the University’s recent decision to set up a new School of Data Science, and it reflects the broader efforts of President S. Joe Qin to promote the use and benefits of generative AI and ChatGPT. The sessions hosted by Lingnan University will focus on themes linked to the UN’s SDG 9 “Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure” and SDG 17 “Partnerships for the Goals”.
In a keynote talk, Professor Chen Xi, Dean of the School of Interdisciplinary Studies, will speak about AI-driven evolution of advanced energy systems and the prospects of engineering the carbon loop. Such initiatives are essential to address the challenges of climate change, by cutting greenhouse gas emissions and promoting energy efficiency.
Lingnan experts will also take part in a panel discussion and an on-stage presentation, using case studies to demonstrate how AI can drive novel solutions.
A range of examples will also show how digitalisation helps to increase access to technology around the world and why that is so important in advancing each of the UN’s SDGs.
Keynote talk
Case Study Presentation
Panel Discussion
Keynote talk
Date: 11 Jun 2024 (Day2)
Time: 3:15 – 3:45 pm
Venue: Room 103
Topic: Addressing Climate Change: Negative Emission and AI-Driven Evolution of Advanced Energy Systems
To address the global challenge of climate change, revolutionary solutions are needed to develop highly efficient energy materials and systems, as well as mitigating carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions. We present several recent disruptive advances in AI-driven material and system design that could significantly promote energy conversion efficiency and energy storage capacity. The carbon loop is further closed by efforts direct air capture (DAC) of carbon dioxide which bridges CO2 capture and CO2 conversion (utilization) in a distributed manner. The “grand science” and future prospects of engineering the carbon loop are also discussed.
Speaker:
Professor CHEN Xi, Chair Professor and Director of School of Interdisciplinary Studies, Lingnan University
Case Study Presentation
Date: 12 Jun 2024 (Day3)
Time: 10:15 – 10:45 am
Venue: Exhibition Hall: Impact Stage
Title: "AI-Driven Interdisciplinary Innovations for Sustainable Development"
This presentation explores the transformative potential of AI in fostering interdisciplinary collaborations that contribute to sustainable development. By showcasing case studies at the intersection of various fields, we demonstrate how AI-driven innovations in these fields can lead to novel solutions and insights that support sustainability goals. Furthermore, we discuss the educational implications of these interdisciplinary approaches, highlighting the importance of integrating AI and sustainability principles across various disciplines. The presentation aims to inspire new synergies between AI and diverse fields, ultimately contributing to the broader discourse on digital revolutions for sustainable development.
Speakers:
- Professor CHEN Xi, Chair Professor and Director of School of Interdisciplinary Studies, Lingnan University
Dr. Hang XIAO, Assistant Professor, School of Interdisciplinary Studies, Lingnan University
Panel Discussion
Date: 12 Jun 2024 (Day3)
Time: 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Venue: Room 103
Topic: Regional solutions and global lessons: Digital revolution for sustainable development
To address the global challenge of climate change, revolutionary solutions are needed to develop highly efficient energy materials and systems, as well as mitigating carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions. We present several recent disruptive advances in AI-driven material and system design that could significantly promote energy conversion efficiency and energy storage capacity. The carbon loop is further closed by efforts direct air capture (DAC) of carbon dioxide which bridges CO2 capture and CO2 conversion (utilization) in a distributed manner. The “grand science” and future prospects of engineering the carbon loop are also discussed.
Speakers:
- Dr. Jay LIU, Chief engineer, Green Carbon Research Institute
- Professor Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, Emeritus professor, Asian Institute of Technology
- Professor Liangliang ZHU, Associate professor, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University
- Dr. Hang XIAO, Assistant professor, Lingnan University
Moderator:
Professor CHEN Xi, Chair Professor and Director of School of Interdisciplinary Studies, Lingnan University
Our speakers @GSDC 2024
Professor CHEN Xi
Prof. Chen Xi is Chair Professor and Dean of the School of Interdisciplinary Studies at Lingnan University. He received his Ph.D. in Solid Mechanics from Harvard University, and spent 20 years as a professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering at Columbia University, before joining Lingnan in 2023. He received numerous awards including the NSF CAREER Award, the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), ASME Sia Nemat-Nasser Early Career Award, ASME Thomas J. R. Hughes Young Investigator Award, and SES Young Investigator Medal. He is a Fellow of ASME. He has published over 400 journal papers with a h-index over 70. He uses multiscale theoretical, experimental, and numerical approaches to investigate various research frontiers in engineering science addressing real-world challenges in energy, environment, nanotechnology and biology.
Dr. Hang XIAO
Dr. Hang Xiao is an Assistant Professor at the School of Interdisciplinary Studies, Lingnan University. His research focuses on accelerating the AI-driven development of functional materials that contribute to sustainability. He has made significant contributions in pioneering new interdisciplinary fields, including the development of SLICES, the world's first invertible and invariant crystal representation, and the prediction of new 2D materials. He actively collaborates with industry partners to develop innovative solutions for carbon capture and optoelectronics applications.
Dr. Jay LIU
Dr. Jie (Jay) LIU obtained his Ph.D. from China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing). He was the Director of the Corrosion Protection Center of CNOOC Limited, where he led a team for gas purification. He was also associated with Smartcorr Inc. for developing room temperature decarbonization technology. He is currently Chief Engineer of Green Carbon Research Institute of Xi'an Nonferrous Metal Exploration Research Institute, Shaanxi Nonferrous Metals Group. His current research interests include carbon dioxide capture and utilization, natural gas purification, oil and gas refinery equipment corrosion prevention, oil and gas efficient separation, etc. He has published 14 SCI papers, 1 EI paper, 20 invention patents, and 1 monograph.
Professor Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai
Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai holds a Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley in 1978 under Fulbright Scholarship. He joined the Bangkok-based Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in 1979, retired as AIT President in 2018 and is currently AIT Emeritus Professor. He returned from his retirement in 2019 to serve as the Founding Executive Director of a specially established Chulalongkorn School of Integrated Innovation (ScII) with unique curriculum to groom talents for the changing world of digital era. Professor Worsak was inducted into the Royal Society of Thailand’s Academy of Science in 2016, the AIT Hall of Fame in 2019 and Chulalongkorn Engineers Hall of Fame in 2022.
Professor Liangliang ZHU
Dr. Liangliang Zhu is an Associate Professor at the School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, and Technical Director of Carbon Neutrality Technology at Shaanxi Institute of Energy and Chemical Engineering. He received his Ph.D. from Xi'an Jiaotong University and studied at Columbia University as a visiting scholar for two years. He has long been engaged in research on carbon capture and utilization technologies (CCU), including the development of novel materials, processes and systems for CCU, and energy consumption and carbon footprint management under the carbon neutrality vision. He has presided over and participated in more than 20 key R&D projects. He has published over 60 papers in the fields of energy, chemical engineering, and materials, and has been authorized over 20 patents. He has received 1 gold award and 2 silver awards in Shaanxi Provincial Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition for Science and Technology Workers, first prize of Shaanxi Higher Education Science and Technology Award, and is selected into Xi'an Science and Technology Association's Young Talent Support Program.
Our Booth @GSDC 2024
Booth number: 144
(In the area of Digital Revolution for sustainable development)
Ballroom 1-3, Level 1
Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QNSCC)
60 Ratchadaphisek Rd
Khlong Toei
Bangkok 10110
Thailand