Seeram Ramakrishna

Electrospun Nanomaterials and Societal Challenges Seeram Ramakrishna Director of Center for Nanofibers & Nanotechnology National University of Singapore

Abstract

Putative modern scientific research began in Western Europe along side of industrial revolution some 300 years ago with no more than a thousand people. Since then the organized scientific research led innovation has been expanded in Europe and accelerated significantly by USA. Recent years saw emerging nations tailoring policies and committing resources to nurture their own scientific research led innovations to facilitate inclusive growth and sustainable development. There are now several million researchers around the world. For successful participation of a vast number of them, there is a need to lower the barriers for innovation.

Over the past decade the electrospinning and electrospraying techniques have become affordable platform techniques for growing number of students, researchers, academics and businesses around the world to produce several organic and inorganic nanofibers and nanoparticles for a range of purposes. This lecture illustrates various advances in the science & engineering of electrospun nanomaterials, and their applicability in meeting the growing needs of clean water, environment & energy, and quality healthcare & food.

Resume

Professor Seeram Ramakrishna, FREng, FNAE is a professor of materials engineering and Director of Center for Nanofibers & Nanotechnology (http://serve.me.nus.edu.sg/seeram_ramakrishna/) at the National University of Singapore, NUS. He authored 5 books and ~ 500 peer reviewed papers, which received more than 21,500 citations with an H-index of 73. Various international databases such as Thomson Reuters ISI Web of Science, Elsevier Scopus, Microsoft Academic, and Google Scholar place him among the top 30 materials scientists worldwide. He is considered as the father of modern electrospinning. He delivered more than 100 opening addresses & keynote lectures around the world in addition to the prestigious Kavli Prize Nanoscience Symposia lecture. Technology companies based on his inventions market products in several countries. His academic leadership includes National University of Singapore Vice-President (Research Strategy); Dean of Engineering; Director of NUS Enterprise, Director of Industry & Technology Relations Office; Founding Director of NUS Bioengineering; Founding Director of NUS initiative on Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, NUSSNI; and Founding Chairman of $120 million Solar Energy Institute of Singapore, SERIS. He facilitated the establishment of General Electric’s $150 million Global Water Center in Singapore. He is a board member of several national and international organizations. He is a thinker and speaker on global trends in higher education and innovation (http://www.europeanbusinessreview.com/?p=7771) at meetings organized by World Bank, OECD, EU, ASEAN, Governments, NGOs and think-tanks. He authored a timely book entitled The Changing Face of Innovation. He also served as the Vice-President of International Federation of Engineering Educator Societies (www.ifees.org) and Founding Chair, Global Engineering Deans Council (www.gedc.org). He is a board member of Asia Society for Innovation & Policy. He is the Chairman of Academic Board of PSB Academy. He is an elected international fellow of Royal Academy of Engineering, UK; National Academy of Engineering, India; Institution of Engineers Singapore; ASEAN Academy of Engineering & Technology; American Association of the Advancement of Science; ASM International; American Society for Mechanical Engineers; American Institute for Medical & Biological Engineering; Institution of Mechanical Engineers, UK; and Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining, UK.