KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Raf Dewil | KU Leuven (Belgium)
Raf Dewil is currently serving as a Full
Professor at the Department of Chemical Engineering at KU Leuven (University
of Leuven). He completed his BS and MS in Chemical Engineering from KU
Leuven and earned his PhD in Bioscience Engineering from the University of
Antwerp. Raf Dewil is a Visiting Professor at the Department of Engineering
Science at the University of Oxford in June 2022. Professor Dewil's
scholarly impact is reflected in his publication record of over 200 papers
in international journals, receiving over 10,000 citations, and an h-index
of 47 according to Web of Science.
He holds the position of Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Environmental
Management and serves on the editorial board of renowned international
journals, including the Chemical Engineering Journal and Renewable Energy.
He is frequently invited as a keynote lecturer at international conferences.
An entrepreneur at heart, he co-founded the spin-off company InOpSys, based
on his previous research on industrial sidestream treatment.
On top of his academic commitments, Professor Dewil also provides consulting
services for various companies, utilizing his knowledge and industry
experience to advise on sustainable and efficient practices. In his
commitment to service, Professor Dewil served for six years as the chairman
of the board of directors of the Belgian federation of wastewater treatment
companies, watercircle.be, and has contributed to numerous society
committees and review panels.
Valentina Busini | Politecnico di Milano (Italy)
Prof. Valentina Busini has expertise in safety engineering and chemical engineering. In particular, with regard to industrial safety, she usually works on the analysis of the consequences of industrial accidental events, such as the CFD modelling of: heavy gas dispersion in complex environments, dispersion of hydrogen and carbon dioxide, design of vapour curtains; and the definition of methodologies for the evaluation of industrial accidents triggered by natural events (the so-called NaTech events). As far as chemical engineering is concerned, she focuses on process intensification finding methodologies for the transformation of batch processes into continuous ones.
Title of Keynote: Advantages and Dangers of Producing and Using Hydrogen
Abstract-Hydrogen is widely recognized as one
of the key energy carriers for the transition toward a low-carbon economy.
Its use offers several advantages, including the possibility of
decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors, integrating renewable energy sources,
and reducing greenhouse gas emissions when produced through low-carbon
pathways. At the same time, the large-scale deployment of hydrogen
technologies introduces new technical and safety challenges that must be
carefully addressed throughout the entire value chain, from production and
storage to transportation and final use.
This keynote will provide an overview of both the opportunities and the
risks associated with hydrogen. The discussion will cover the main
production routes, highlighting their environmental implications, as well as
the potential role of hydrogen in future energy systems. Particular
attention will be devoted to the unique physical and chemical properties of
hydrogen, such as its wide flammability range, low ignition energy, high
diffusivity, and propensity for leakage, which distinguish it from
conventional fuels and require dedicated engineering solutions.
Drawing on recent research and industrial experience, the presentation will
examine the main accident scenarios, including releases, fires, explosions,
and interactions with infrastructure, together with the methodologies
currently available for risk assessment and mitigation.
The objective is to provide a balanced perspective on hydrogen, emphasizing
that its successful adoption depends not only on its environmental benefits
but also on the ability to understand, manage, and communicate the
associated risks.
Gilles Flamant | CNRS-PROMES (France)
Gilles Flamant is Emeritus Research Director at CNRS-PROMES (France) and PI of the French Laboratory of Excellence in solar energy “SOLSTICE”. He earned an engineer degree from “Chimie Paris Tech” (ENSCP) and a PhD degree in chemical engineering from the University of Toulouse. Gilles Chairs the ExCo of SolarPACES (IEA Energy Technology Network). His current research activities focus on particle-driven CSP technologies. During the five last years, he was/is coordinating three CSP-related projects: the SOLPART and Next-CSP H2020 projects and, he is currently scientific coordinator of Powder2Power HE project.
Title of Keynote: Perspectives in particle-driven concentrating solar technology
Yu Hong | Beijing Forestry University, China
Hong Yu, Professor, obtained her bachelor degree from Xi’an Jiaotong University in 2003, and doctorate from Tsinghua University in 2008. She was a visiting scholar with the CSC fund to conduct academic research at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2015-2016). Her main research directions include microalgae-based wastewater treatment into resources and carbon emission reduction, environmental functional materials, environmental risk substance toxicity assessment. She has presided over several national-level and provincial S&T projects, including the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Beijing Science and Technology Star Program. So far, more than 80 academic papers have been published, including 52 SCI papers, and obtained 14 national invention patents. She successively undertakes the Youth Working Committee of Algae Branch of the China Algae Industry Association, the Water Treatment and Reuse Committee of the Chinese Society of Environmental Sciences, a member of the Youth Working Committee of the Chinese Chemical Society, and some academic journals’ reviewers, etc. She has won the Beijing Science and Technology Nova Star, the China Environmental Science Society Youth S&T Award, the Water Treatment and Reuse Annual National Excellent Journal Paper Award, the leader 5000 The top paper awards of China's fine S&T journals, outstanding doctoral thesis of Tsinghua University, etc.
Najmeh Askari | KU Leuven (Belgium)
Najmeh Askari is currently a Marie- Curie Post-doctoral researcher at KU Leuven, Faculty of Chemical and Biochemical Reactor Engineering and Safety (CREaS). Her research focuses on wastewater treatment using advanced oxidation and reduction processes. She has extensive experience in design, synthesis and characterization of photocatalyst semiconductors including porous Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), perovskites, visible-light-driven heterojunctions and photocatalytic membrane for environmental decontamination. In addition to her scientific track record, she has strong experience in developing and writing competitive EU-funded research proposals She has valuable industry experience as the head of safety department in an Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Management Consulting firm. Looking ahead, she is excited by the prospect of further advancing her understanding of wastewater treatment and environmental remediation. Her vision encompasses not only the pursuit of fundamental research but also the translation of scientific insights into tangible solutions with real-world impact.