Staff Reporter
THE annual Chemistry Conference hosted by the Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ) and sponsored by Qatar Fertiliser Company (Qafco) recently saw experts from the US, Singapore, Hong Kong, UAE, and Qatar in attendance.
Keynote speaker Krzysztof Matyjaszewski (the JC Warner University Professor of Natural Sciences, Mellon College of Science, Carnegie Mellon University, US) discussed his research findings about atom transfer radical polymerisation (ATRP) and its applications.
Recognised worldwide as one of the most distinguished professors of chemistry, Matyjaszewski holds 33 US and 81 international patents.
He has published more than 500 peer-reviewed papers and 10 books. His first groundbreaking paper on ATRP in 1995 has been cited more than 1600 times and his citation record (>24,000) ranked him No 6 scientist in all fields of chemistry worldwide in 2004, 2005 and 2006 and No 4 in 2007.
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Matyjaszewski is also director of the Center for Macromolecular Engineering at Mellon College of Science and director of ATRP and CRP Consortia. He has held many visiting positions at universities in France, Poland, and Japan.
TAMUQ science programme co-ordinator Hassan S Bazzi, hoped the conference helps in instituting a culture of research and development that would occur in parallel with the industrial, educational and economic development in Qatar.
TAMUQ associate dean for research and graduate studies, Jim Holste, lauded the conference as an important outreach to industry and commercial interests in Qatar and the region.
Qafco managing director Khalifa al-Sowaidi spoke of the importance of the collaboration between Qatar industry and the educational institutions in Qatar. He pledged continued support for future chemistry conferences.
Bazzi and Holste presented al-Sowaidi and Matyjaszewski with mementoes marking the occasion.
TAMUQ dean and CEO Mark H Weichold stated that his institution is a hub for leading academic research, and the conference is an important part of that effort.
“This meeting of chemists from around the world is a tribute to the timeless tradition of scholars gathering to share, discuss and develop their ideas,” he said.
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