Cultivating global research collaboration with University funding
The University’s International Collaboration Fund and a Santander Mobility Grant made it possible for a group of undergraduate chemical engineering students to gain valuable experience of presenting their research to leading experts at RWTH Aachen University, cited as being one of the world’s top 150 universities in the 2023 QS World University Ranking
THE University’s International Collaboration Fund has facilitated in cultivating further collaboration with one of Europe’s leading institutions for science and engineering after it enabled a Huddersfield academic to visit RWTH Aachen University in Germany and deliver a workshop showcasing his research on circular water economy and wastewater treatment.
Dr Athanasios Angelis-Dimakis, a Reader in Chemical Engineering from the University’s Department of Chemical Sciences, has been conducting research for a major European wide project titled AquaSPICE since 2020. The €12.8 million project includes 29 partners from across Europe and aims to materialise circular water use in European Process Industries, foster awareness in resource-efficiency and deliver compact solutions for industrial applications. RWTH Aachen University is the project’s lead co-ordinator.
The workshop featured research conducted by Dr Angelis-Dimakis on the environmental impact and assessment of various AquaSPICE technologies as well as including presentations on life cycle assessment, wastewater treatment and industrial symbiosis.
As well as delivering the workshop, Dr Angelis-Dimakis was able to utilise a further funding opportunity, as a result of the University’s partnership with Santander Universities, in the form of a Santander Mobility Grant, making it possible for a group of undergraduate students to accompany him on the visit.
The students, all studying Masters of Engineering degrees in Chemical Engineering, were Matthew Ridley, Abi Whitehouse, Ozana Vlad and Daniels Valdmanis. Individually, they presented their research theses on themes aligned with the AquaSPICE project and gained valuable experience showcasing their research to leading experts at one of the world’s top 150 universities, as cited by the 2023 QS World University Rankings.
The trip concluded with a guided tour of the Aachen-Soers Wastewater Treatment Plant from hosts Laurence Palmoski and Thomas Wintgens who had acquired funds from the AquaSPICE project to pay for the outing and cover the visitors’ sustenance.
Dr Angelis-Dimakis, an active member of the University’s Biorefinery Engineering and Bioprocessing Research Centre, is now in the process of planning another visit to RWTH Aachen University, to take place by the end of 2023, using the second half of the funding.
“The University has connections with RWTH Aachen University in a number of areas like metrology for example,” said Dr Angelis-Dimakis.
“By fostering further collaboration, with a trip planned for next year, this will allow us to be able to work together on a paper that will showcase productive use of the International Collaboration Fund, demonstrate tangible knowledge exchange with a Top150 university, as well as being an excellent example of enhancing the student experience,” he added.
Image caption: Dr Angelis-Dimakis and the four students concluded their trip with a guided tour of the Aachen-Soers Wastewater Treatment Plant by hosts Laurence Palmoski and Thomas Wintgens, who had acquired funds from the AquaSPICE project to pay for the outing and cover the visitors’ sustenance.
Nicola Werritt
Media Relations & Content Officer
n.c.werritt@hud.ac.uk
The University of Huddersfield – Inspiring Global Professionals
The University has a growing reputation as an inspiring, innovative provider of higher education of international renown. Our researchers are dedicated to solving the problems and answering the questions posed by industry, science and society as a whole. The University's research is showcased by world-leading applied research groups in biomedical sciences, engineering, physical science, humanities, the arts and social sciences.
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In 2017, the University won the first Global Teaching Excellence Award (Higher Education Academy) and is currently joint first in England for professionally qualified teaching staff.
The University has been awarded an overall 5-star rating from QS Stars, which renders the university world-class for teaching, employability, facilities, innovation, internationalisation and inclusiveness.
In 2021, the University gained a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for the innovative work carried out at the Centre for Precision Engineering. This followed the 2019 Queen's Anniversary Prize awarded to the University's Institute of Railway Research and the 2015 Queen’s Anniversary Prize for expanding global boundaries in new music.
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