Category: Awards and prizes

Centre Director Xiwang Zhang and Chief Investigator Chuan Zhao have been elected as ATSE Fellows. The prestigious recognition from the Fellowship of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences & Engineering (ATSE) is a testament to their groundbreaking contributions to clean energy technologies.

As part of an exclusive group of 32 new fellows in the 2024 cohort, Professors Zhang and Zhao were selected through a highly competitive process by the existing Fellowship. Their election to the ATSE Fellowship highlights their remarkable achievements in sustainable energy and technological innovation.

Professor Xiwang Zhang

Professor Zhang is internationally acclaimed for his pioneering work in membrane science and technology. His innovative solutions address complex challenges at the intersection of water, environment, and climate change. He established the ARC Industry Transformation Hub for Energy-Efficient Separation (EESep), which translates membrane science into practical applications across various fields, including clean water production, wastewater recycling, biotechnology, and mining.

Leading the ARC Centre of Excellence for Green Electrochemical Transformation of Carbon Dioxide (GETCO2), Professor Zhang is at the forefront of converting CO2 into valuable products.

Professor Chuan Zhao

Professor Zhao is revolutionising Australia’s green hydrogen capabilities with his breakthrough water-splitting electrode technology. He pioneered a 3D nickel-iron electrode, known for its exceptional durability and record-high efficiency in hydrogen production from water. This technology has been commercialised and is now an industry standard, representing a significant advancement for zero-carbon hydrogen in Australia.

Beyond hydrogen production, Professor Zhao’s electrochemistry innovations extend to water-sensing technology for the petroleum industry, cochlear implants, and the conversion of carbon dioxide into useful products. He holds multiple leadership positions and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, and the Royal Society of New South Wales.

GETCO2 is proud to have a strong representation in the ATSE fellowship, with four fellows contributing to world-class innovation and impactful research. Learn more about our fellows:

• Chief Investigator Professor Zaiping Guo FTSE
• Chief Investigator Professor Darren Martin FTSE
• Chief Investigator Professor Chuan Zhao FTSE
• Director Professor Xiwang Zhang FTSE

Adam Lee, Professor of Sustainable Chemistry at Griffith University and Chief Investigator at GETCO2, has been awarded the 2023 Royal Australian Chemical Institute Award. The RACI Award is to honour and welcome a senior chemist who is new to Australia and has made a substantial contribution to advancing chemical research within Australia.

Adam relocated from the UK in 2018, first to RMIT University in Melbourne, and more recently to Griffith University at their Gold Coast campus near the beach.

Adam’s research team develop new chemical processes using catalysts (substances that accelerate chemical reactions) to manufacture fuels and high-value molecules from renewable resources in a sustainable fashion. Catalysis lies at the heart of life on earth, powers our homes and puts food on our tables, contributing to >35 % of global wealth.

New catalytic processes are critical to combat climate change, by enabling a transition from fossil to renewable feedstocks for energy and chemicals production, and to ensure sufficient food and clean water for a growing world population.

Designing catalysts that operate with minimal energy input, and produce negligible waste, requires sophisticated synthetic methods to sculpt materials with atomic precision, and analytical tools to understand their microscopic workings during chemical reactions.

As a scientist, Adam seeks to encourage a holistic view of catalysis across the broad community and to mentor a new generation of chemists who adopt multidisciplinary approaches to tackle grand societal challenges. On a personal note, he is passionate about eliminating the stigma associated with mental illness, and hopes to support new generations of scientist to feel empowered that their voices and ideas are important and deserve to be heard.

Outside of work, he is a keen wildlife photographer and enjoys hiking and trekking the natural world; relocating to Australia has provided amazing opportunities to see endangered animals – in between honing his BBQ skills!

The Royal Australian Chemical Institute is a qualifying body for professional chemists, and a learned society promoting the practice of chemistry. Learn more about RACI here.