Media Tip Sheet: Urban Ecology at #ESA2024

Featured presentations at the 109th Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America in Long Beach, California

ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA

 

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THE 2024 ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA WILL TAKE PLACE IN LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AUG 4-9. MEMBERS OF THE PRESS ARE INVITED TO APPLY FOR COMPLIMENTARY PRESS REGISTRATION.

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CREDIT: ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA

Interest in urban ecology is growing rapidly as cities expand and the need to understand urban ecosystems becomes more pressing. The Ecological Society of America’s upcoming Annual Meeting in Long Beach, Calif., Aug. 4–9, features a diverse array of talks and posters dedicated to this dynamic field.

Researchers from around the world will present their latest findings on how urban environments impact biodiversity, ecosystem services and human well-being. In addition to a Symposium devoted to the urban ecology of Greater Los Angeles, dozens of talks and posters will offer valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of managing and conserving urban ecosystems.

The presentations listed below are just a fraction of the scientific research being shared at ESA’s Annual Meeting. ESA invites staff journalists, freelance journalists, student journalists and press officers to register for free as media attendees up to and throughout the week of the conference. For eligibility information, please visit ESA’s press registration credential policy page.

Members of the media will be able to attend all scientific sessions and will have access to a press room where they can enjoy refreshments, internet access, a printer and an interview area. A virtual registration option is also available. Virtual attendees will have access to 13 livestreamed hybrid sessions, a variety of on-demand recorded content and the full online program that will be available on the meeting platform until summer 2025.

Monday, August 5
1:30 PM – 1:45 PM	Indigenous-led pathways for meaningful collaborations and solutions to urban ecological restoration and management Presenter: Ary Amaya, UCLA and Anawakalmekak Contributed Talk – Rm 203B
2:15 PM – 2:30 PM	It's not just your imagination: Trees really are cool Presenter: Melissa McHale, University of British Columbia Organized Oral Session – Grand Ballroom A
Tuesday, August 6
8:00 AM – 8:15 AM	Analyzing ecological interactions between urban trees and vertebrate species: a comparative study of New Delhi and Bengaluru, India Presenter: Madhusudan Katti, North Carolina State University Contributed Talk – Regency DEF
9:00 AM – 9:15 AM	Rooted inequities: Unveiling socio-economic disparities in Baltimore street tree diversity and distribution Presenter: Meghan Avolio, John Hopkins University Contributed Talk – Regency DEF
10:15 AM – 10:30 AM	Investigating the role of reproductive traits in structuring urban plant communities Presenter: Stephanie Rivest, IRBV & Université de Montréal Contributed Talk – Regency DEF
11:00 AM – 11:15 AM	Temperature differences related to urban socioeconomic gradients affect mosquito population growth Presenter: Sarah Rothman, University of Maryland Contributed Talk – Regency DEF
2:30 PM – 2:45 PM	How is success defined in urban afforestation initiatives? A case study of the New York City Million Trees initiative Presenter: Elizabeth Cook, Barnard College Contributed Talk – Regency DEF
Wednesday, August 7
1:30 PM - 1:45 PM	Assessing the relative importance of climate, biogeography, history, and socio-economic drivers of ecological homogenization of cities Presenter: Marc Cadotte, University of Toronto, Scarborough Organized Oral Session – Rm 104B
2:45 PM - 3:00 PM	Urban street trees host more endophytes and human pathogens than rural trees Presenter: Kathryn Atherton, Boston University Contributed Talk – Regency DEF
3:30 PM - 3:45 PM	Equitable pollinator habitat in cities: promising or problematic? Presenter: Susannah Lerman, U.S. Forest Service Contributed Talk – Regency DEF
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM	Exploring the past, present, and future of urban ecology in Los Angeles Presenters: Eric Wood, California State University, Los Angeles; Natasha Khanna-Dang, California State University, Los Angeles; Jamiah Hargins, Crop Swap LA; Jonathan Ocón, Clark University; Alejandro Fabian, TreePeople; Rebecca Ferdman, LA County Chief Sustainability Office; Jason Douglas, University of California, Irvine Inspire Session – Brand Ballroom B
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM	Ecological impacts and energetic trade-offs of a resilient coral in Honolulu Harbor Presenter: Madelief Schelvis, University of Hawaii at Manoa Contributed Poster – Exhibit Hall, Poster 48-125
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM	Invasive species across kingdoms: Seasonal impacts of invasive Amynthas earthworms on urban biogeochemistry in native and non-native forests Presenter: Kelsey Parker, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center Contributed Poster – Exhibit Hall, Poster 45-104
Thursday, August 8
4:00 PM - 4:15 PM	Lessons learned managing vacant land as pollinator habitat Presenter: Mary Gardiner, The Ohio State University Organized Oral Session – Grand Ballroom B
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM	From the theoretical to paws on the ground - validating connectivity models with hyper-local ground-truth data Presenter: Auxenia Privett-Mendoza, Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy Latebreaking Poster – Exhibit Hall, Poster 12-124
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM	High concentrations of harmful heavy metals, and evidence of urban-tolerant hunting behaviors, found in the diets of Stanford University’s peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) Presenter: Maya Xu, Stanford University Latebreaking Poster – Exhibit Hall, Poster 32-285

 

On-site Press Room

Location: Room 203A, Long Beach Convention Center, 300 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802

Press Room hours:
Sunday, August 4:12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Monday, August 5: 7:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tuesday, August 6: 7:00 am – 5:00 pm
Wednesday, August 7: 7:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday, August 8: 7:00 am – 5:00 pm

Phone number: (562) 499-7731  

 

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The upcoming ESA Annual Meeting will take place August 4–9 in Long Beach, California, and will feature thousands of oral and poster presentations on the latest ecological science. Learn more on the meeting website. ESA invites press and institutional public information officers to attend for free. To register, please contact ESA Public Affairs Manager Mayda Nathan directly at mayda@esa.org. On-site registration and virtual registration (providing access to the entire program and a limited number of hybrid sessions) are also available.

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The Ecological Society of America, founded in 1915, is the world’s largest community of professional ecologists and a trusted source of ecological knowledge, committed to advancing the understanding of life on Earth. The 8,000 member Society publishes six journals and a membership bulletin and broadly shares ecological information through policy, media outreach and education initiatives. The Society’s Annual Meeting attracts 4,000 attendees and features the most recent advances in ecological science. Visit the ESA website at https://www.esa.org

 

Follow ESA on social media:
Twitter/X – @esa_org
Instagram – @ecologicalsociety
Facebook – @esa.org

 

University of Washington researchers take flight with new insights on bat evolution

PEERJ

 

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BATS ARE THE ONLY MAMMALS CAPABLE OF POWERED FLIGHT AND HAVE CORRESPONDINGLY SPECIALIZED BODY PLANS, PARTICULARLY IN THEIR LIMB MORPHOLOGY. 

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CREDIT: ZDENĚK MACHÁČEK

University of Washington Researchers Take Flight with New Insights on Bat Evolution

Video Interview with Authors - https://youtu.be/6rogrh2_HN0

In new research published in PeerJ Life & Environment, researchers from the University of Washington, University of Texas at Austin and Oregon Institute of Technology, led by undergraduate student Abby Burtner, have advanced our understanding of the evolutionary origins of flight in bats. The study, titled "Gliding toward an Understanding of the Origin of Flight in Bats," employs phylogenetic comparative methods to explore the evolutionary transition from gliding to powered flight in these unique mammals.

Bats are the only mammals capable of powered flight, a feat enabled by their highly specialized limb morphology. However, the evolutionary pathway that led to this capability has remained elusive due to an incomplete fossil record. Burtner et al.'s research provides significant insights by testing the hypothesis that bats evolved from gliding ancestors.

The research team analyzed a comprehensive dataset of limb bone measurements that included four extinct bats and 231 extant mammals with various locomotor modes. Their findings reveal that gliders exhibit relatively elongate forelimb and narrower hindlimb bones that are intermediate between those of bats and non-gliding arboreal mammals. Evolutionary modeling of these data offers support for the hypothesis that selection may be strong on certain forelimb traits, pulling them from a glider towards a flyer adaptive zone in bats.

"We propose an adaptive landscape of limb bone traits across locomotor modes based on the  results from our modeling analyses," said Dr. Santana. "Our results, combined with previous research on bat wing development and aerodynamics, support a hypothetical evolutionary pathway wherein a glider-like forelimb morphology preceded the evolution of specialized bat wings"

This study not only supports the gliding-to-flying hypothesis but also challenges the traditional view of bat and glider limb evolution. The researchers emphasize the need for future studies to test the biomechanical implications of these bone morphologies and to consider the complex genetic and ecological factors that influenced the evolution of bat powered flight.

"Our findings contribute to the hypothesis that bats evolved from gliding ancestors and lays a morphological foundation in our understanding of bat flight” Dr. Law added. "However, we stress that additional fossils are necessary to truly unravel the mysteries of this remarkable evolutionary transition."

For more information on this study or to arrange an interview with Dr. Law or Dr. Santana, please contact the University of Washington’s Department of Biology.

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JOURNAL

PeerJ

DOI

10.7717/peerj.17824 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Observational study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Animals

ARTICLE TITLE

Gliding toward an understanding of the origin of flight in bats

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

25-Jul-2024

 

New additive process can make better — and greener — high-value chemicals

CABBI team used eco-friendly photoenzymes to add flourine to olefins, which could lead to more effective agrochemicals, medicines, and fuels

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABILITY, ENERGY, AND ENVIRONMENT

 

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CABBI POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER MAOLIN LI (SEATED) AND CONVERSION THEME LEADER HUIMIN ZHAO WORK IN THEIR LAB AT THE CARL R. WOESE INSTITUTE FOR GENOMIC BIOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN. THEY LED A RESEARCH TEAM THAT USED A PHOTOENZYMATIC PROCESS TO PRECISELY MIX FLUORINE, AN IMPORTANT ADDITIVE, INTO WIDELY USED CHEMICALS CALLED OLEFINS. THIS GROUNDBREAKING METHOD OFFERS AN EFFICIENT AND ECO-FRIENDLY STRATEGY FOR CREATING HIGH-VALUE CHEMICALS WITH POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS IN AGROCHEMICALS, PHARMACEUTICALS, RENEWABLE FUELS, AND MORE.

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CREDIT: CENTER FOR ADVANCED BIOENERGY AND BIOPRODUCTS INNOVATION (CABBI)

Researchers at the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI) have achieved a significant breakthrough that could lead to better — and greener — agricultural chemicals and everyday products.

Using a process that combines natural enzymes and light, the team from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign developed an eco-friendly way to precisely mix fluorine, an important additive, into chemicals called olefins — hydrocarbons used in a vast array of products, from detergents to fuels to medicines. This groundbreaking method offers an efficient new strategy for creating high-value chemicals with potential applications in agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, renewable fuels, and more.

The study, published in Science, was led by CABBI Conversion Theme Leader Huimin Zhao, Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (ChBE), Biosystems Design Theme Leader at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology (IGB), and Director of the NSF Molecule Maker Lab Institute at Illinois; and lead author Maolin Li, a Postdoctoral Research Associate with CABBI, ChBE, and IGB.

As an additive, fluorine can make agrochemicals and medicines work better and last longer. Its small size, electronic properties, and ability to dissolve easily in fats and oils all have a profound impact on the function of organic molecules, augmenting their absorption, metabolic stability, and protein interactions. However, adding fluorine is tricky and usually requires complex chemical processes that are not always friendly to the environment.

The scientists in this study used a “photoenzyme” — a repurposed enzyme that works under light – to help bring fluorine into these chemicals. By using light and photoenzymes, they were able to precisely attach fluorine to olefins, controlling exactly where and how it is added. Because this method is not only environmentally friendly but very specific, it allows for more efficient creation of useful new compounds that were difficult to make before.

This approach fills a large gap in molecular chemistry, as previous methods to add fluorine were limited and inefficient. It also opens up new possibilities for creating better medicines and agricultural products, as fluorinated compounds are often more effective, stable, and longer-lasting than their non-fluorinated counterparts. That means fertilizers and herbicides could be more effective in protecting crops, and medicines could be more potent or have fewer side effects.

“This breakthrough represents a significant shift in how we approach the synthesis of fluorinated compounds, crucial in numerous applications from medicine to agriculture,” Zhao said. “By harnessing the power of light-activated enzymes, we’ve developed a method that improves the efficiency of these syntheses and aligns with environmental sustainability. This work could pave the way for new, greener technologies in chemical production, which is a win not just for science, but for society at large.”

The research advances CABBI’s bioenergy mission by pioneering innovative methods in biocatalysis that can enhance the production of bio-based chemicals — those derived from renewable resources such as plants or microorganisms rather than petroleum. The development of more efficient and environmentally friendly biochemical processes aligns with CABBI’s focus on creating sustainable bioenergy solutions that minimize environmental impact and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

It also contributes to the broader U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) mission of driving advances in bioenergy and bioproducts. The methods developed in this study can lead to more sustainable industrial processes that are less energy-intensive and reduce chemical waste and pollution, supporting DOE’s goals of fostering clean energy technologies. The ability to efficiently create high-value fluorinated compounds could lead to enhancements in various fields, including renewable energy sources and bioproducts that support economic growth and environmental sustainability.

“Our research opens up fascinating possibilities for the future of pharmaceutical and agrochemical development,” Li said. “By integrating fluorine into organic molecules through a photoenzymatic process, we are not only enhancing the beneficial properties of these compounds but also doing so in a manner that’s more environmentally responsible. It’s thrilling to think about the potential applications of our work in creating more effective and sustainable products for everyday use.”

CABBI researchers Yujie Yuan, Wesley Harrison, and Zhengyi Zhang of ChBE and IGB at Illinois were co-authors on this study.

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JOURNAL

Science

DOI

10.1126/science.adk8464 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Experimental study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

Asymmetric photoenzymatic incorporation of fluorinated motifs into olefins

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

26-Jul-2024

H2

Green hydrogen from direct seawater electrolysis- experts warn against hype

DSE electrolyzers are not necessary - a simple desalination process is sufficient to prepare seawater for conventional electrolyzers. In a commentary in Joule, international experts compare the costs and benefits of the different approaches.

HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM BERLIN FÜR MATERIALIEN UND ENERGIE

 

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COMPARISON OF THE ENERGY AND OVERALL COSTS OF SEAWATER PURIFICATION AND ELECTROLYSIS

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CREDIT: N. HAUSMANN/HZB IN JOULE

At first glance, the plan sounds compelling: invent and develop future electrolysers capable of producing hydrogen directly from unpurified seawater. But a closer look reveals that such direct seawater electrolysers would require years of high-end research. And what is more: DSE electrolyzers are not even necessary - a simple desalination process is sufficient to prepare seawater for conventional electrolyzers. In a commentary in Joule, international experts compare the costs and benefits of the different approaches and come to a clear recommendation.

Fresh water is a limited resource; more than 96% of the world's water is found in the oceans. If seawater could be fed directly into a future electrolyser to produce green hydrogen using renewable energy from the wind or sun, it sounds like a very good solution. Hundreds of millions of dollars in research fundingare spend for this idea and, in 2023 alone, there have been more than 500 publications (this number is growing exponentially) on direct seawater electrolysis.

No need for new development

However, a techno-economic analysis shows that this argument collapses as soon as the costs and benefits are analysed in more detail. "There is no convincing reason to develop DSE technology because there are already efficient solutions for using seawater to produce hydrogen," says Dr Jan Niklas Hausmann, electrolysis researcher at HZB and lead author of the Joule commentary. International experts from various disciplines from renowned research institutions such as Yale University, universities in Canada, Germany and HZB contributed to the commentary.

Proven methods work

It is already possible to use seawater to produce hydrogen. Proven processes such as reverse osmosis can be used to purify seawater for "normal", commercially available electrolysers. From a thermodynamic point of view, the purification of seawater needs only 0.03% of the energy required for its electrolysis. This is also reflected in the current cost: purifying seawater to produce one kilogram of hydrogen costs less than two cents. However, one kilogram of hydrogen costs 13.85 euros at German filling stations.

Investing money wisely

The development of new types of electrolysers that can operate steadily in seawater would only save this cheap purification step. In contrast, the development of DSE electrolysers is extremely challenging and it is highly questionable whether they will ever be able to match the efficiency and long-term stability of today's electrolysers. Experts see major challenges here: Seawater contains a wide variety of organic and inorganic substances that can cause corrosion and fouling, affecting all parts of the electrolyser. DSE is currently being advertised as a real-world solution for hydrogen production - A promise that cannot be kept and could swallow up a lot of taxpayers' money, the researchers warn.

"We can compare this with the direct use of crude oil to run cars" explains Jan Niklas Hausmann: "It is possible to develop such cars, but they would just not be as efficient and long-lasting as ones running on purified petrol. This is despite the fact that the cost of purifying crude oil (via refinery) is up to 16% of the final price of the fuel, which is significantly higher than the relative cost of purifying seawater for electrolysis (<1%)."

Getting electrolysis research on track to contribute to decarbonisation

"Academic research does not necessarily have to lead to immediate solutions. However, if DSE is presented as a quick fix and is pushed or hyped to the detriment of other more promising approaches, it will tie up resources that will be lacking elsewhere for the development of key decarbonisation technologies," explains Dr Prashanth Menezes, an expert on catalysts at HZB.

"If we want to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, funding must be directed to developments that can quickly contribute to this," says Menezes.

Focusing on the development of direct seawater electrolysis misspends limited funding resources

CREDIT

N. Hausmann/HZB in Joule

 

Key points of the techno-economic analysis:

 

Commercially already available water purification such as reverse osmosis treats seawater to make it suitable for "normal" electrolysers. The relative costs of this are very low.

Direct seawater electrolysis poses major challenges for the electrolysers to be developed:

•     Biofouling processes
•     Corrosion
•     Short lifetime and smaller flexibility of electrolysers

 

Conclusion: The enormous sums of money required for the development of DSE would be better invested in the further optimisation of electrolysers that use highly purified water instead. This is because the water purification process hardly incurs any costs.

 

Note: Experts from various disciplines contributed to this commentary: Prof Elimelech and Prof Winter are experts in water purification technologies and authors of a recent report on the use of various impure water sources for hydrogen production, Prof Khan and Prof Kibria are experts in renewable energy storage technologies and their techno-economic analysis and authors of a recent report on the techno-economic aspects of DSE. Dr Sontheimer is an expert in energy technologies and the interaction between science, industry and policy stakeholders; Dr Hausmann and Dr Menezes are experts in materials science, catalysis and water splitting and have recently published a techno-economic analysis of DSE.

 

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JOURNAL

Joule

DOI

10.1016/j.joule.2024.07.005 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Meta-analysis

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

Commentary: Hyping Direct Seawater Electrolysis Hinders Electrolyzer Development

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

25-Jul-2024

NUS Centre for Hydrogen Innovations opens state-of-the-art facility dedicated to advancing hydrogen research, training and collaborations

Eight projects have been selected for potential funding, with the aim of realising a quantum leap in hydrogen innovation and commercialisation - Efforts are underway to strengthen the hydrogen talent pipeline

Business Announcement

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE

 

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THE NUS CENTRE FOR HYDROGEN INNOVATIONS WAS OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED BY DR TAN SEE LENG, MINISTER FOR MANPOWER AND SECOND MINISTER FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY (MIDDLE). HE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY PROFESSOR TAN ENG CHYE (THIRD FROM RIGHT), NUS PRESIDENT; MR RUSSELL THAM (THIRD FROM LEFT), HEAD, EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES, TEMASEK; AND REPRESENTATIVES OF NUS AND TEMASEK.

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CREDIT: NUS CENTRE FOR HYDROGEN INNOVATIONS

Giving Singapore’s National Hydrogen Strategy a big push, the National University of Singapore (NUS) today officially launched its Centre for Hydrogen Innovations (CHI) with the inauguration of an advance research facility as the Centre’s flagship innovation hub. Spanning over 600 square metres and furnished with state-of-the-art research equipment, the new facility aims to boost hydrogen research and commercial application in Singapore.

The launch of CHI was officiated by Dr Tan See Leng, Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry, in the presence of distinguished guests from the hydrogen research and industry ecosystem in Singapore.

CHI was first established as a virtual Centre in July 2022 through an investment of S$25 million, comprising a S$15 million endowed gift from Temasek, and along with additional funding from NUS. The Centre takes a holistic approach to tackle technological and infrastructural challenges in enabling a hydrogen economy through harnessing a broad spectrum of expertise, including science and engineering, from various entities at NUS. At CHI, research activities are organised under four key areas: green hydrogen production, hydrogen storage, hydrogen carrier systems, and hydrogen utilisation.

Over the last two years, CHI has provided more than S$4.2 million in grants to support 17 innovative projects in hydrogen-related research. The Centre has also been very successful in securing external grants, including a grant of S$8 million awarded recently to CHI under the Low Carbon Energy Research programme to conduct research on ammonia combustion.

NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye said, “NUS strives to catalyse change and shape a more sustainable future in our core mission areas of education, research and innovation, and in operations and administration. The launch of the Centre for Hydrogen Innovations represents a bold, significant step that NUS is taking towards building a sustainable future. The Centre is taking off on a strong start, and I look forward to its contributions towards knowledge building, Singapore’s climate target of net zero emissions target by 2050, and the global fight against climate change.”

Mr Russell Tham, Head, Emerging Technologies, Temasek, said, “Tackling today’s complex sustainability challenges demands a comprehensive, whole-of-system approach, and multi-stakeholder collaboration. A blend of sustained STEM-based R&D; technology-savvy entrepreneurs and investors; global and cross-sector partnerships; and diverse public and private capital with the risk appetite and stamina, can cultivate a vibrant deep-tech innovation ecosystem. As a co-founder of Centre for Hydrogen Innovations with NUS, we are committed to leveraging our capabilities and networks to help advance low-carbon hydrogen technologies and strengthen their pathways for broader adoption.”

CHI’s new research facility will anchor the Centre’s cutting-edge research while boosting its efforts in education and industry collaboration. Some state-of-the-art equipment featured in the facility include a four-channel reactor for carbon dioxide hydrogenation; a catalyst synthesis robot that automates the process of creating catalysts required for hydrogen-related research; prototyping, testing and characterisation tools; as well as a dedicated section for scientific work involving ammonia, which requires special handling and storage precautions.

Pushing the boundaries of hydrogen research

To further strengthen the research infrastructure of Singapore’s future hydrogen economy, CHI has selected eight promising projects for potential funding, and these projects are in two broad areas: disruptive research to achieve a quantum leap in hydrogen technologies, and creation of market-oriented prototypes to pave the way for the commercialisation of innovative hydrogen technologies.

Please refer to the Annexe for some of these interesting projects.

Building a strong talent pool for a vibrant hydrogen economy

CHI intends to further expand the talent pool for hydrogen professionals in Singapore. The Centre plans to recruit about 10 polymathic scholars with interdisciplinary expertise and train 10 PhD students to enhance its research capabilities and strengthen CHI’s current team of 32 principal investigators and 4 PhD students. CHI will also be introducing courses in hydrogen technologies to prepare learners for the future hydrogen economy.

To promote greater public awareness of the benefits of hydrogen energy, CHI has recently organised the “Hydrogen Innovation Challenge”. In this competition, student teams created Instagram reels to express their visions for Singapore’s transition to hydrogen energy. These videos were open for public voting and reviewed by a judging panel comprising experts in the field, and the shortlisted teams were then challenged with a quiz. Three winning teams received prizes during today’s official opening event.

Partnering the industry to boost hydrogen transition

To promote the adoption of hydrogen technologies, CHI has been actively engaging industry partners to leverage complementary strengths in a bid to accelerate innovation, scale up technologies more efficiently, and address complex challenges associated with hydrogen production, distribution, and utilisation.

CHI has established close collaborations with 17 industry partners - ranging from global companies to small and medium-size enterprises. For example, CHI researchers are working with Siemens Energy to develop a novel gas turbine technology that can utilise partially cracked ammonia as feedstock. In another project, CHI researchers are working with Chevron to develop a direct “liquid hydrogen carrier” production process via electrocatalysis.

CHI aims to further enhance its engagement with industry, and ultimately driving the transition towards a more sustainable energy future.

Please visit hydrogen.nus.edu.sg for more information on CHI. 

Professor Yan Ning (left), Director of NUS Centre for Hydrogen Innovations, giving guidance to a researcher for his research on carbon capture, utilisation, and storage.

Researchers at the NUS Centre for Hydrogen Innovations will develop novel catalysts and processes for the cracking of ammonia to generate hydrogen.

Developing automated production of novel catalysts using cutting-edge robotic synthesis 

 

Researchers at the NUS Centre for Hydrogen Innovations will develop automated production of novel catalysts using cutting-edge robotic synthesis.

CREDIT

NUS Centre for Hydrogen Innovations