Exploring research and teaching synergies between UWS and China: the Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Shale Gas Resource Exploitation & Centre for Environmental Research, UWS

Description

In January 2012, China’s Sinopec announced the discovery of Shale Gas at Lianyuan city in Hunan province, Southern China. Subsequently the Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Shale Gas Resource Utilization was approved by Hunan Provincial Government. Based at the Hunan University of Science & Technology campus in Xiangtan City, it houses 34 permanent researchers in the laboratory, including 9 professors, 8 associate professors http://hnoilgas.hnust.edu.cn/ and whilst independent is affiliated with a number of Schools in the University http://english.hnust.cn/. The laboratory aims to apply an in-depth systematic study to new concepts, methods and scientific principles for shale gas exploration, development and environmental management through three institutes and to develop internationally leading research programmes in: Geological Evaluation; Exploration Technology and Contamination Process Control and Evaluation. The region locally also hosts a number of base metal and other mineral resources that have been actively exploited during China’s rapid industrial development. As re-bound effects from this process environmental contamination issues and food chain security are of regional and national concern. In 2014 the Centre for Environmental Research, developed collaborative relations with the Key lab, bringing from UWS wide experience of pollutant migration, environmental impact and human health risk assessment as well as over 20 years of programme development in Environment, Waste and Resource Management focused on geosystem, industry, regulatory and governance solutions. This has developed in intensity over the last 5 years, providing two way exchanges of staff and students, as part of both UWS and HNUST international strategies. Modest reserves of shale gas have been identified in Scotland, but a government moratorium on exploitation is in place whilst varying degrees of development are found across the UK. The opportunity to address a range of current issues in energy security and resource exploitation relevant to UK and China is never more relevant. We will present a reflective review of success of the collaboration to date, discussing both the research programme and strategic plans. Also how these have fed into curriculum development, institutional links and the future opportunities across the academic profile of both partners.

Period	27 Jun 2018
Event title	UWS Learning, Teaching & Research Conference 2018: Bridging Boundaries: Connecting Learning, Teaching & Research
Event type	Conference
Location	Paisley, United KingdomShow on map
Degree of Recognition	Regional