Wayne State and BASF assemble lineup of renowned chemical engineers for fourth annual lecture series

The Wayne State University College of Engineering invited three prominent scientists to speak in the winter 2022 semester for the fourth annual BASF Distinguished Lecture Series, a joint effort between BASF and the Wayne State Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science.

The hour-long lectures aim to stimulate idea-focused conversations about exciting advances in areas such as sustainable ammonia synthesis, molecular dynamics simulations of Alzheimer’s peptides, and the challenging transition from fossil fuels to solar energy.

Jens Norskov, Ph.D., Villum Kann Rasmussen Professor of Physics at the Technical University of Denmark opened the series on Jan. 26. Carol Hall, Ph.D., Camille Dreyfus Distinguished University Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at North Carolina State University, presented on March 30. Rahesh Agrawal, Ph.D., Winthrop E. Stone Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering at Purdue University, will close out the series on April 6.

"We are honored to have these amazing speakers this year, and incredibly grateful to BASF for their support of this series that makes it possible for us to provide a high-quality educational experience to our undergraduate and graduate students," said Helen Durand, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at Wayne State University and coordinator of the BASF Distinguished Lecture Series.

"The quality of science education at Wayne State is outstanding, and BASF is proud of our partnership with the College of Engineering," said Christopher Hewitt, BASF innovation network manager. "This lecture series is a great opportunity for BASF to support first class speakers coming to Wayne State to enhance this education."

The partnership between Wayne State and BASF — the largest chemical producer in the world, with a footprint in more than 80 countries — was established to create new channels that connect students with professional leaders and enhance interaction among industry experts.