Plenary Speakers

Jing Huang Professor at The Administrative Center for China’s Agenda 21, China

      Jing Huang is the director and researcher of China's Agenda 21 Management Center of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, a member of the National Expert Committee on Climate Change, and an expert on climate issues. He obtained his PhD degree from Tsinghua University in 2005. He once served as the director of the China Biotechnology Development Center and the deputy director of the Personnel Department of the Ministry of Science and Technology. He mainly promotes the implementation of China's Agenda 21 to address climate change and achieve carbon neutrality. The goal of the Center is to promote the sustainable development of Chinese society by carrying out project management, achievement promotion and industrialization demonstration work in the fields of resources, environment, marine, and medicine in the national science and technology project.

W.S. Winston Ho American Academy of Engineering Professor at The Ohio State University, United States

      W. S. Winston Ho is a distinguished professor of engineering in the William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at The Ohio State University. He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering, USA in 2002, and elected to Academia Sinica, the highest form of academic recognition in Taiwan. He obtained his BS degree from National Taiwan University and his MS and PhD degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, all in Chemical Engineering. Prof. Ho specialized in membranes and separations including polymers, liquid membranes, carbon dioxide capture, hydrogen purification, fuel cell fuel-processing, facilitated transport, supported liquid membranes, reverse osmosis, gas treating and pervaporation. Before teaching for 22 years, he had 28 years of industrial R&D experience in membranes and separation processes, working for Allied Chemical, Xerox, and Exxon, and serving as the Senior Vice-President of Technology at Commodore Separation Technologies. As New Jersey Inventor of the Year (1991), Prof. Ho holds more than 60 US patents, generally with foreign counterparts, in membranes and separation processes. He received the 2006 Institute Award for Excellence in Industrial Gases Technology from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), and he was the 2007 recipient of Clarence G. Gerhold Award, from the AIChE Separations Division. He received the 2012 Lawrence B. Evans Award in Chemical Engineering Practice from AIChE.

Heping Xie Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering Professor at Sichuan University, China

      Heping Xie is an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, a distinguished professor of Shenzhen University, a director of the Academic Committee of the Carbon Neutral Future Technology Institute of Sichuan University, an editor-in-chief of several international energy journals including Energy Reviews, and an expert in the field of deep earth science and green energy. He obtained his BS, MS, and PhD degrees from the China University of Mining and Technology, and once served as the president of China University of Mining and Technology and the president of Sichuan University. His researches have spanned topics such as carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), low-carbon technology, seawater hydrogen production and geothermal energy. He has published more than 500 papers, more than 10 books and more than 50 patents in journals including Nature and Nature Energy. His work has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the second prize in China’s National Natural Science Award, the second prize in the National Science and Technology Progress Award, the third prize in the National Science and Technology Progress Award, the third prize in the National Natural Science Award, the first “China Young Scientist Award (Technical Science)”, and the Ho Leung Ho Lee Science and Technology Progress Award (Technology).

Xiaochun Li Professor at Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

      Xiaochun Li is a researcher at the Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Wuhan. He also serves as the director of the CO₂ Geological Storage Research Center at the Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics of CAS and leads the team focusing on CO₂ geological storage. Prof. Li has dedicated himself to researching the safety and theoretical aspects of CO₂ geological storage technology. He is recognized as a pioneer in the field of Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) in China. He has developed a series of testing techniques and instruments for studying the transport, adsorption, fracturing, and heat transfer characteristics of CO₂ in rock formations. Prof. Li has introduced an "essential conditions plus key factors" approach for evaluating the suitability of storage sites. This method provides a scientific basis and guidance for national and local government policy-making and the selection of storage project locations. In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Prof. Li has received several awards and honors, including the U.S. Energy Award and four first prizes at the provincial and ministerial level for scientific and technological progress. He has authored or co-authored 6 specialized books, published over 200 research papers, obtained 36 patents, registered 24 software copyrights, and contributed to the editing of 5 international standards and 6 industry norms. He is also recognized as a high-level talent under the Chinese Academy of Sciences talent development program.

Jinyue Yan European Academy of Humanities and Sciences Chair Professor, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR

      Jerry Jinyue Yan is an academician of the European Academy of Humanities and Sciences, a chair professor at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the editor-in-chief of the international energy journal Advances in Applied Energy, and a senior international expert on CCUS. He obtained his PhD degree from the Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden in 1991 and was appointed as a tenured lecture professor in Sweden in 2001. He once served as the director of the Department of Energy Engineering at Luleå University of Technology in Sweden, a chair professor at the Royal Institute of Technology and Mälardalen University in Sweden, and the director of the Future Energy Center. Prof. Yan is engaged in research in the fields of renewable energy technology and low-carbon technology, energy system integration and optimization, carbon capture, utilization and storage carbon trading, advanced power generation technology and energy storage, and efficient energy utilization. He has published more than 400 papers in journals including Science, Nature, Energy Nature Climate Change, with over 22,500 citations, more than 70 collections of papers, and more than 10 patents. Prof. Yan has received several professional awards and honors, including the Global Human Settlements Green Technology Award supported by the United Nations Environment and Development Program, the final nominee for the Global SWFF Award, the EU Energy Islands’ Award, and the Swedish Royal Engineering Science Research2Business Top100.

Noritatsu Tsubaki Japanese Academy of Engineering Chair Professor, University of Toyama, Japan

      Noritatsu Tsubaki is an academician of the Japanese Academy of Engineering, Chair Professor of Energy and Chemical Engineering, National Toyama University, Director of Sustainable Science and Technology Research Center, and member of the Third Division of the Japan Academic Conference. He has won more than 10 awards such as the Science and Technology Award by the Japanese Minister of Education, the Japan-China Science and Technology Exchange Association Award, the Catalysis Society of Japan and the Energy Society of Japan Society Award (Lifetime Achievement Award), and the International Cooperation Award of the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation. He served as China's National Special Expert, Chairman of Japan Petroleum Industry Technology Center - Synthetic Fuels Overseas Investigation and Research Committee, and President of Japan Natural Gas Research Society. He has published more than 500 papers in Nat. Catal., Nat. Commun., ACR, JACS, authored 9 books, authorized more than 60 Japanese invention patents, and built 7 demonstration factories. In the past 5 years, he has received more than 40 projects funded by NEDO, International Cooperation Agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He has been engaged in the development of carbon-based energy catalytic conversion system, and has made internationally leading scientific research achievements in new and efficient energy conversion materials creation and new reaction routes for the synthesis of high value-added chemicals exploration.

Bin Liang Professor at Sichuan University, China

      Bin Liang is the Distinguished Professor of the School of Chemical Engineering of Sichuan University, Vice President of Sichuan University, Director of the New Energy and Low Carbon Technology Research Institute, and an expert in the field of green energy. He obtained his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Sichuan University and his PhD degree from Tianjin University. He once served as the deputy chairman of the Chemical Engineering Teaching Steering Committee of the Ministry of Education. Prof. Liang is also working on theoretical research on chemical reactors, CCUS technology, and the intensification of chemical processes. He has published more than 300 papers, more than 10 books, and more than 60 patents in mainstream international journals on chemical industry and energy. Prof. Liang has received several professional awards and honors, including the first prize for Teaching Achievements from the Ministry of Education of China, the first prize of China’s Sichuan Province Technological Invention Award, and the first prize of the Sichuan Province Science and Technology Progress Award.

Xiaoxun Ma Professor at Northwest University, China

      Xiaoxun Ma is a distinguished faculty member at Northwest University. He serves as the head of various prestigious academic and research centers, including the International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base for Clean Utilization of Carbon and Hydrogen Resources, the Ministry of Education Engineering Research Center for Advanced Utilization of Energy and Chemicals in Northern Shaanxi, the Engineering Technology Research Center for Clean Coal Conversion in Shaanxi Province, and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Energy and Chemical Industry Development in Northern Shaanxi. He is also a permanent member of the organizing and academic committees of international conferences like the Global Chinese Chemical Engineering Scholars Workshop and the Sino-Japanese Coal and Carbon Chemical Conference. Prof. Ma has dedicated his career to the research and development in fields such as clean and efficient coal conversion, chemical mass transfer and separation, carbon chemistry, and fluidized bed technology. His contributions to the field have resulted in over 40 patented inventions and the publication of more than 200 research papers. Prof. Ma has received numerous awards, including the "Outstanding Entrepreneur Award" among the Second National Hundred Outstanding Overseas Chinese Professionals and the accolade of "Outstanding Scientific and Technological Worker in the National Petroleum and Chemical Industry". He has also been honored with 3 first and second class research awards at the provincial and ministerial levels.

Tao Wang Professor at Zhejiang University, China

      Tao Wang is a professor at the College of Energy Engineering of Zhejiang University, a member of the International Alliance for Air Carbon Dioxide Capture (ACT), and the chairman of the ICCU International Conference Program Committee. He obtained his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees from the Zhejiang University. His research focuses on greenhouse gas emission reduction technologies, including large-scale flue gas carbon dioxide absorption and capture, direct separation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and carbon dioxide curing to prepare high-performance building materials. The humidity swing adsorption technology developed for direct capture of atmospheric carbon dioxide was listed as one of the two main technical methods in this field in the 2018 carbon negative emissions report jointly released by the National Academy of Sciences and the Academy of Engineering in the USA. He has authored over 60 papers and holds more than 40 patents published in internationally renowned journals such as JPCL, EST, and Applied Energy. He won the first prize in the Science and Technology Progress Award of Higher Education Institutions Scientific Research Outstanding Achievement Award of Ministry of Education.