Last week, W/Professor Dongke Zhang was invited by the Federation of Chinese Scholars in Australia (FOCSA) to give a plenary speech at The 3rd Australia –China Symposium on Science, Technology and Education.

The Symposium aims to foster stronger links between Australian and Chinese universities and industries by providing a forum for exchange of ideas and networking among representatives from governments, academia, industrial and research organizations.

The 1st Australia–China Symposium was held in Sydney in 2006 and was attended by more than 140 delegates. The 2nd Australia-China Symposium focused on technology commercialisation, clean coal technology, renewable energy and climate change response.

This year the 3rd Australia-China Symposium was held in Melbourne from 6-8 October 10 and covered broader areas of science, technology and education.

Professor Margaret Sheil, the CEO of the Australian Research Council, delivered the opening plenary speech in which she highly praised the role of Chinese scholars in Australia’s research.

Prof Zhang, a key-note speaker, also gave an absorbing plenary talk on “Basic Science versus Technological Innovation: What the role of an Engineering Scientist Should be?” Prof Zhang’s plenary provided a historical account of the evolution of universities, the role of government funding of universities and a critical analysis on the combat relationship between basic research and technological innovation. Prof Zhang promoted his ideology that knowledge belongs to the society and technology belongs to the industry. In his speech, he encouraged engineering scientists to work more closely with industry and society at large to foster greater impact of engineering science research and development.

The Symposium also addressed strategic topics such as technology commercialisation, clean coal technology, renewable energy, climate change response and mitigation and future education.

Prof Zhang commented that the Symposium presented an excellent opportunity for Australian scholars of Chinese origin to showcase their intellectual work, exchange experiences and ideas in scientific research and technological development with Chinese counterparts and to promote multiculturalism in Australia. He was most impressed by the presentations from a number of young postgraduate students at the Symposium who are sponsored by China Scholarship Council and are reading for their PhD degrees at various Australian universities.

Around 250 delegates from industry, academia, research organisations, scientists and government officials from Australia and China as well as Canada attended the Symposium.

Media references

W/Prof Dongke Zhang (Director, UWA Centre for Energy) (+61 8) 6488 7600