UQ Nanotechnology leader honoured by Institutions of Engineers Australia

Leading Australian nanotechnology researcher Professor Max Lu of The University of Queensland was honoured with a prestigious award at an international conference in Melbourne today.

Professor Lu, who is the Director of UQ's Nanomaterials Centre, received the Orica Award recognising excellence in research, teaching and professional services in chemical engineering.

The award is sponsored by Orica Australia and was jointly presented by the Institution of Engineers, Australia, Institution of Chemical Engineers, and Royal Australian Chemical Institute at the 6th World Congress of Chemical Engineering, being held at the Melbourne Convention Centre 23-27 Sept.

Professor Lu is currently Chair of Chemical Engineering in Nanotechnology at The University of Queensland, and the Nanomaterials Centre (NanoMac) he established and heads has more than 25 researchers developing nanomaterials for energy and environmental applications.

He is the author and co-author of more than 200 scientific papers mostly in international refereed journals. He received the Young Scientist Award (International Union of Materials Research Societies) in 1997 and The University of Queensland Vice-Chancellor's Research Excellence Award in 1999.

Professor Lu is visiting professor at the University of Illinois -Urbana-Champaign, PennState University, University of Antwerp, Belgium, and Princeton University. A Fellow of IChemE, UK, and member of RACI and AIChE, he is editor and editorial board member of four international journals including the Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology.

Professor Lu is co-inventor for four patents on nanostructured materials for gas separation, catalysis, fuel cells, and water purification. These patented materials are now in the process of being commercialised by the University. Industry partners are welcome for collaboration in further R&D and commercialisation of these materials.

Media: Further information, contact Professor Max Lu, telephone (07) 3365 3885