October 2020
In these troubled times the challenges the world faces require, more than ever, the solutions from chemical and materials engineers. Whether it is about discovering novel ways to detect quickly the presence of a virus, developing technology for large scale cleaning and sterilising, or providing clever means to upscale antivirals and food supplies, there is simply no way these can be achieved without the input of our disciplines. Of course, the looming crisis of climate change persists, and that agenda has never been off our plate. Now throw in a looming global recession.
There has been a traditional notion that universities and schools are relatively recession proof. Companies and corporations come and go, but our institutions of learning endure. This is largely attributed to the nature of humanity, and the constant need to learn and create new knowledge. While at a macroscale the financial side of education is relatively robust and resilient, at the smaller and finer scales, for instance in subject areas and specific research disciplines, there is an almost contradictory huge dynamic ‘flux’, of changing and adapting to current trends and future new growth markets. For example, consider the emerging significance of biology in the chemical and materials engineering fields, which is matched by the rising importance of disruptive tech, incorporating AI and big data science. In the past year, our department has responded to global needs to invest in these areas of expertise, and both staff and students have and will continue to adapt and benefit from the changes. Hence, on the surface a university may appear relatively ‘static’ in terms of its larger purpose of providing higher level education but, beneath, the wheels are furiously turning to the winds of change.
Best Wishes,
Ashvin Thambyah
Associate Professor & Head of Department
Chemical & Materials Engineering
Checkout the Chemmat Gold Fund – The fund has been established to help create an inspirational learning and research environment designed to prepare our engineers of the future, for the future.
Way to go, Wei!
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In May 2020, $25M for innovative solutions in response to COVID-19 was announced by the government. $110K was awarded to Chemmat’s Associate Professor Ashton Partridge’s company Digital Sensing Ltd. The name of their project for testing for COVID-19, is...
April message – Head of Department
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Chemmat alumni James Woolner
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CMESA news
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Winner of the best Zoom background and dress-up award…
… goes to Chemmat Professional Teaching Fellow, Dr Pablo German (on the left. On the right is Chemmat’s Head of Department Assoc Prof Ashvin Thambyah).
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Key Auckland leadership in IChemE’s learned society digitalisation priority topic
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Info session on Sustainable Resource Recovery
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Steve Strover
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Life on Zoom
Staff-Student Consultative Committee Meeting – 3 April 2020 Friday drinks with the...
February message – Head of Department
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November Message – Head of Department
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IChemE Project Winners
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Water & Wastewater Treatment Symposium
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The 70th Anniversary of P R China
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Prof Wei Gao’s Recent Achievements
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Resource Recovery Workshop
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Finalist For Callaghan C-Prize
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Young Executive Of The Year Finalist
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Chemmat Final Year Presentation
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Velocity Innovation Challenge winner
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3D food printer at Chemmat
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Beer brewing at Chemmat
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NZPA celebrates successful win
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Chemmat at Enginuity Day
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Way to go, Wei!
In June 2020 it was announced that Chemmat’s Professor Wei Gao had been awarded The Vice-Chancellor’s Commercialisation Medal as part of the University of Auckland 2020 Research Excellence Awards. From the UoA website: Professor Wei Gao from Chemical and...