Under the patronage of the Dean of the College of Engineering, Prof. Dr. Ayad M. Takhakh, the Chemical Engineering Department organized a scientific symposium at the College of Engineering, in collaboration with the University of Adelaide, Australia, titled:

“Scaling-Up Renewable Energy Generation in Countries where Legacy Fossil Fuels are Dominant: Experiences from Australia.”

In the symposium, Prof. Dr. Daniel Rossetto from the University of Adelaide delivered a lecture on the status of renewable energy and its usage compared to fossil fuels in Australia. He also discussed the challenges faced by the sector, particularly regarding infrastructure and distribution networks, ways to address and overcome these challenges, and their impact on consumers regarding cost reduction and service sustainability. Additionally, he highlighted the role of private sector investment in this field.

Prof. Rossetto also touched on the types of renewable energy sources used, such as wind, solar, and biomass energy, as well as the relevant legislation, and discussed how similar approaches could be applied in Iraq. Prof. Dr. Basim Obeid Hassan, a visiting professor in Australia, also participated, sharing his scientific experience and expertise in the field and presenting part of his research work.

The session and discussion were chaired by Assistant Prof. Dr. Abbas Al-Farraji, Head of the Chemical Engineering Department. The symposium was attended by several faculty members from the department, a representative of the President of Al-Mustaqbal University, several directors of renewable energy research centers, and researchers from various universities via the Zoom platform. Following the presentations, a discussion session was held, during which many questions were raised by the attendees, leading to a constructive dialogue aimed at strengthening and opening avenues for collaboration in clean energy scientific research.

It is worth mentioning that according to the QS World University Rankings 2024, the University of Adelaide ranks 82nd globally, and according to the Times Higher Education ranking, it is ranked 128th.