Keynote Speakers

Dr. Animesh Jha
University of Leeds, UK
Keynote Speaker

Dr. Animesh Jha is a full-time Professor of Applied Materials Science since August 2000 at the University of Leeds, where he has spent more than 24 years in undertaking, both, the fundamental and applied research in the fields of glass, metals and inorganic chemicals (TiO2, Rare-earth oxides, alumina, and chromium oxide, and other important oxide materials) used in the energy sector. He also devotes a significant amount of time in doing research on Biomaterials and light-based diagnostics for bone, dental and bowel diseases.

Animesh Jha obtained his Bachelor and Master of Engineering degrees in Metallurgy and Metallurgical Engineering at the University of Roorkee and the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, in India in 1979 and 1981, respectively. He obtained his PhD in mineral science and engineering at the Imperial College of Science and Technology (University of London) in October 1984. After completing two stints of post-doctoral research at Purdue University (US) and at the University of Sheffield (UK) between May 1985 and April 1989, AJ took his first academic post at Brunel University (Uxbridge) in May 1989 where he worked for nearly 7 years, before taking up the academic post at the University of Leeds in March 1996.

AJ has served as an expert on several project review panels overseas (US, EU) and in UK (EPSRC). These details are given in the CV. AJ has published more than 200 research articles in peer-reviewed journals, presented and published more than 200 in conference proceedings, supervised 30+ PhDs and trained many post-doctoral research fellows, several of whom have become established academics, vice president and CEO of global companies. AJ has earned Fellowships of the Optical Society of America (2019), Royal Society of Chemistry (2015) and Institute of Physics (2010). He has been recognized by the OSA for training Women in STEM subjects.

AJ is also the member of the Academic Advisory Board of the Glass Futures Ltd, a centre of excellence in Glass Science, Engineering and Technology.

Topic of Keynote: Extraction and Refining of Rare and Rare-earth Oxides from Complex Iron-bearing Concentrates for Applications in Energy Devices
Keynote Abstract

Dr. Frank Cheng
University of Calgary, Canada
Keynote Speaker

Dr. Frank Cheng is a Professor and Canada Research Chair at the University of Calgary. He is an internationally reputed researcher in Corrosion Science and Engineering of Pipelines. Dr. Cheng has authored 3 books and over 210 journal publications, with the total citations exceeding 8,100 and the H-index of 58. In particular, he published a commentary article regarding pipeline safety and environmental impact in Nature in 2016. Dr. Cheng is the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the Canadian Distinguished Materials Scientist Award, the Metal Chemistry Award by Canadian Metallurgy and Materials Society, H.H. Uhlig Award by NACE International, Shi Changxu Award by China Corrosion and Protection Society, Engineering Research Achievement Award by the University of Calgary, etc. Dr. Cheng is serving as the Board Director and Chair of the Technical Committee on Materials Technology of Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering, the Chair of Task Group 521 of NACE International, etc. He previously served as the Treasurer of NACE Foundation of Canada, Country (Canada) Leader of Corrosion IMPACT Global Program, the member of U.S. National Academy of Sciences’ committee on Bitumen Transportation by Pipelines, the Theme Editor of Encyclopaedia of Pipeline Engineering, etc.

Topic of Keynote: Fundamental and applied aspects of nanocomposite photoanodes for photoelectrochemical cathodic protection
Keynote Abstract