Prof Veikko Uahengo Veikko received his Ph. D in Chemistry at the Wuhan University, China, in 2013, after spending close to ten years pursuing MSc and Ph. D in Chemistry, while under the Staff Development Fellowship programme of the University of Namibia (UNAM). Upon completing his Ph. D, he returned back and rejoined the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UNAM. He was appointed as HoD of Chemistry and Biochemistry in 2014, until 2017, the same year promoted to senior lecturer. In 2017, he was appointed as the Deputy Dean, Faculty of Science, the role he served until 2019. In 2020, after the restructuring process, he became the first Associate Dean of the School of Science, the role he is serving up to date. In 2020, he was promoted to Associate Professor position until March 2024, before he was finally promoted to a Full Professor position in May 2024. Additionally, he has been actively involved in research project collaboration with both local and international partners. He was a co-principal investigator in the 5 universities consortium project (CU, UB, BIUST, KNUST, UNAM) with Royal Society – DFID Capacity building programme, 2016-2021, giving birth to Chem4Energy Consortium. He is currently a co-principal investigator in a SASSCAL Funded Project – Green Hydrogen Project for Daures Villages, 2023 – 2025. While pursuing Ph. D, his main research focus was on the photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen production. The studies exploited the parameters such as antenna effects and judicious molecular engineering of ruthenium compounds. His studies were particularly focused on understanding and harnessing charge transfer mechanisms (MLCT, MMCT, LMCT, etc.). In addition to the dye sensitizers for solar cells, lately his focus is on catalytic systems based on composite metal oxides employing biosynthesis methods for applications in water splitting for GH2, degradation of organic matters for water treatment, biological activities and conversion of CO2 into other useful components such as CO and Urea. Prof Nasim Amiralian Dr Nasim Amiralian is the Leader of the Bio-inspired Materials research group at The University of Queensland. Her research mission is to repurpose and transform agricultural waste into a commercial and sustainable product to tackle the global plastic issue. She partners with industry, First Nations people, community, and farmers to address these challenges collaboratively and transform agricultural waste into diversified, environmentally, and financially valuable resources. In recognition of her contribution to the field of nanomaterials engineering and research excellence, she has received several awards including the Queensland Tall Poppy Award (2024), AgriFutures Australia and AgriFutures Grow 2024 Catalyst program, one of The Eight Australian Women Who Are Shaking up the World of Science (Marie Claire, 2020), one of Australia’s Top 5 Scientists (2018), Queensland Women in STEM Prize- judges choice award (2017) and Women in Technology Life Sciences and/or Infotech Rising Star Award (2016). Nasim also is a strong advocate for cultural diversity and equity and supports staff and students to grow as more effective leaders and create social good.
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