The University of Nottingham Malaysia (UNM) was honoured to be the host for the 15th International Conference on Atmospheric Sciences and Applications to Air Quality (ASAAQ15), co-organising with Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) and National University of Malaysia (UKM). The conference, held from 28 to 30 October 2019 at Corus Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, was proudly supported by Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) and Atmosphere 360, and has secured a journal special issue, namely “Atmosphere, Air Quality and Health” by Springer.
The International Conference on Atmospheric Sciences and Applications to Air Quality (ASAAQ) was initiated in Seoul in 1985 by Professor Y. S. Chung. Since then, ASAAQ has been held in Tokyo, Shanghai, Seoul, Seattle, Beijing, Taipei, Tsukuba, San Francisco, Hong Kong, Jinan, Seoul, Kobe, and Strasbourg. Over the past several decades, air pollution in the Asia Pacific region has become serious, particularly in urban areas, due to rapid industrialisation and urbanisation. ASAAQ offers an opportunity to discuss and scientifically support improvement of the atmospheric environment in the region and the world.
The opening ceremony was conducted by Professor Andy Chan, the Chair of ASAAQ15, Professor Graham Kendall, the Provost, CEO and Pro-Vice Chancellor of UNM; and Dr Nagulendran Kangayatkarasu, the Deputy Secretary General of Environment and Climate Change, MESTECC.
The conference was attended by 130 participants from around 30 countries from all continents (except Antarctica). UNM was also honoured to have invited a number of distinguished guests to give plenary talks and participate in forum – Professor Chak K. Chan from City University of Hong Kong, Professor Roy Harrison from University of Birmingham, Dr Mian Chin from NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre, Professor Lidia Morawska from Queensland University of Technology, Professor Mohd Talib Latif from UKM, Dr David Tan from United Nations University, and Dr Helena Varkkey from Universiti Malaya.
A total of 11 sessions were conducted during the conference, with one full session specialised for the discussion on 7 South East Asian Studies (7-SEAS), a grass-roots-style programme to perform interdisciplinary research and develop a wide-ranging South East Asian scientific data network in the field of aerosol-meteorology and climate interaction in the region extending from Java through the Malay Peninsula and Southeast Asia to Taiwan. A gala dinner for networking was organised at the KL Tower Atmosphere 360 Revolving Restaurant (Atmosphere 360 was one of the ASAAQ15 sponsors). During the gala dinner, Professor Y. S. Chung and Professor Graham Kendall presented awards to Dr. Hiroaki Kondo for his support and contributions to the organisation of ASAAQ; and to Professor George Lin Neng-Huei for his contributions to the scientific community of atmospheric sciences and air quality.
The conference ended with an interdisciplinary discussion session and 7-SEAS workshop. ASAAQ strives to continue to foster scientific discussion and exchange of information on the latest research and practical applications of atmospheric science to air quality issues.
“We are honoured to have been given the opportunity to host this edition of the ASAAQ conference. This conference is very important, more so now, with the rapid decline of our air quality. ASAAQ gives us a much-needed platform to discuss ways to overcome this global phenomenon,” Professor Andy Chan.
(Article image caption: ASSAQ15 delegates at the conference).
(Thumbnail image caption: At the ASAAQ15 opening ceremony (from left to righ): Professor Mohd Talib Latif from UKM,
Professor Andy Chan, Professor Graham Kendall from UNM, Dr Nagulendran Kangayatkarasu from MESTECC, Professor Y.S. Chung from Korea Centre for Atmospheric Environment Research, the founder of ASAAQ, and Dr. Matthew Ashfold from UNM).
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Posted on 11th November 2019