NEWS AND EVENTS

 Dr. Yang Cao (Nanjing Agricultural University, China)

 Dr. Yang Cao is recognized for her outstanding contributions to engineering thermochemistry through the development of innovative confinement catalysis strategies for the sustainable conversion of biomass and carbon resources. Her research has established new approaches for the precision activation of C–O and C–C bonds, enabling highly selective biomass valorization and efficient greenhouse gas conversion. By integrating advanced catalyst design with in situ spectroscopy, kinetic analysis, and theoretical simulations, she has revealed fundamental catalytic mechanisms while developing highly robust catalytic systems for methane dry reforming and biomass upgrading. Her work has significantly advanced the understanding of catalyst stability, selectivity, and reaction pathways under harsh thermochemical conditions, providing important scientific foundations for sustainable energy and carbon-neutral technologies. Dr. Cao has published influential research in leading journals including PNAS, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, Green Chemistry, and Chemical Engineering Journal, and her work has gained broad international recognition. As a rising leader in engineering thermochemistry, she continues to bridge fundamental catalysis with practical applications for sustainable chemical manufacturing and carbon resource utilization.

Professor Liang-Shih Fan (The Ohio State University, USA)

Professor Liang-Shih Fan receives the 2026 WSETC Achievement Award in recognition of his lifetime contributions to engineering thermochemistry, particle technology, and chemical looping science. As one of the pioneers of modern chemical looping technologies, Professor Fan has made transformative advances spanning fundamental reaction engineering, reactor design, process development, pilot-scale demonstration, and industrial commercialization. His pioneering work has established new pathways for clean energy conversion, carbon capture and utilization, hydrogen production, and sustainable chemical manufacturing, profoundly influencing both academic research and industrial practice. A Distinguished University Professor at The Ohio State University, Professor Fan has authored more than 500 journal publications, six books, and over 80 patents, while mentoring generations of students, researchers, and engineers worldwide. His scientific leadership is further reflected by his service as Editor-in-Chief of Powder Technology and by his election to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, together with numerous other national academies and professional societies around the world. His career has had an enduring impact on the advancement of engineering thermochemistry and the global energy community.

Frontier Laboratories R&D Team (Japan)

The Frontier Laboratories R&D Team is honored with the 2026 WSETC Innovation Award for its pioneering innovations in thermochemical analysis and pyrolysis–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). Through more than three decades of sustained research and development, the team has transformed Py-GC/MS from a specialized analytical technique into a globally adopted platform for polymer characterization, catalyst research, recycling technologies, and environmental analysis, particularly in the rapidly expanding field of microplastics. Their innovations encompass advanced analytical instrumentation, sample preparation technologies, tandem micro-reactor systems, and integrated analytical software, substantially improving the accuracy, efficiency, and applicability of thermochemical analysis. The team's work has also contributed to the development of international analytical standards and has enabled researchers worldwide to better understand complex polymer materials and emerging environmental challenges. With their technologies now installed in more than 4,000 laboratories around the world, the Frontier Laboratories R&D Team has demonstrated exceptional scientific creativity, technological innovation, and global impact on engineering thermochemistry.