Two important workshops that team up scientists from Italy and Korea examine the possible paths to take in curbing the effects of pollution.

The first Science and Technology Office of the Italian Embassy workshop took place last week under the umbrella of the ‘International Year of Chemistry’ proclaimed by the United Nations.

The Italian Council of National Research and Hanyang University hosted a workshop focusing on the day-to-day challenges found in the field of chemistry with a strong focus on membrane technologies.

“This workshop was organized to contribute to the wellbeing of humankind under the theme ‘Chemistry ― our life, our future,’ as suggested by the UN,” said Italian Science and Technology Attache Antonino Tata.

The focus of the workshop was related to the exploration of new and innovative technological solutions used in chemistry like membrane bioreactors, which aims to minimize the negative effects imposed by the development of industries worldwide.

“Last century’s industrial revolution is largely responsible for the new environment challenges and issues the world is facing,” he said. “(At the workshop), members discussed strategic issues that not only further sustainable growth of any country, but also its own survival.”

The other workshop will take place on June 22 at the Korea Institute of Energy Research in Daejeon.

The 1st Korea-Italy Symposium on Green Technology will scientifically address the issue of new renewable energies, focusing on the status and future developments of green technologies in Italy and Korea.

“The timing of this workshop could not be more appropriate since climate change, global warming and other climate related questions are nowadays among the most important issues with which we urgently have to deal with at present time and deal with in the coming years,” said Tata.

He added that the dramatic consequences of climate change are recognized worldwide as a security issue and threatens to change the very fabric of human existence.

The symposium will mainly address emerging processes related to renewable energy production ― such as photovoltaics, wind energy, tidal and biomass ― and storage conversion and usage.

“Renewable energies comply with the most recent economic, scientific and environmental issues, and represent the urgent worldwide needs for diversification in the energy sector,” he noted. “They represent a real path to follow in order to produce clean energy and a strong contender to fight climate change and global warming.”

For more information, contact the Science and Technology office of the Italian Embassy at (02) 796-0491 or by email at sciencekor@yahoo.it. Information can also be requested from KIER by calling (042) 860-3740 or emailing Joo Hyun-ku at hkjoo@kier.re.kr or Kim Il-ja at kimilja@kier.re.kr.

By Yoav Cerralbo (yoav@heraldcorp.com)