May 16-18, the V International Russian-Kazakhstan "Chemical Technologies for Functional Materials" Conference was held in Novosibirsk. NSU was co-organizer with Novosibirsk State Technical University (NTSU), Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, and the Institute of Solid State Chemistry and Mechanochemistry SB RAS. More than 350 participants from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Israel took part in the Conference. 142 reports were presented in three sections, including 18 reports in the section on catalysis and hydrocarbon processing that took place at NSU.
Topics discussed during the Conference included: “Scientific Basis for Predicting the Processes for Synthesis, Modification, and Production of Functional Materials”, “Ecological Aspects of Obtaining Functional Materials”, “Chemical Technologies Processes, and Apparatus”, and “Physico-chemical Studies of Catalytic Processes and Catalysts for Petrochemistry and Refining".
This year the Conference took place at two sites, NSTU and NSU. NSU hosted a successful section on catalysis and hydrocarbon processing that included presentations from leading experts from the Boreskov Institute of Catalysis on the chemical technology of catalytic processes associated with the processing of hydrocarbons.
Nikolai Uvarov, member of the Conference organizing committee and Professor at the NSU Natural Sciences Department Solid State Chemistry Section, talked about the event,The Conference contributes to improving NSU’s rating as a University because it demonstrates that the staff and students are engaged with current issues related to chemical technology at the highest scientific level. The event is also targeted at establishing business relations between NSU and the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. Al-Farabi is currently second in the QS International Ranking among CIS universities after Moscow State University.
The Conference included a competition of work by young scientists, students, and graduate students. A number of NSU students were awarded diplomas recognizing their research. The 2020 Conference will take place in Alma-Ata, the southern capital of Kazakhstan. The organizers of the event expect that NSU staff and students will participate.