The 2022 WAFERS Summer Course, held online from July 25 to August 6, 2022, gathered over 130 participants from diverse countries such as Malaysia, China, Nigeria, Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Afghanistan. Hosted by the Department of Chemical Engineering at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), the course centered on optimizing technological innovation in bioresources for water, food, and energy sustainability, with the theme “Improving General Perspective by Optimizing Technological Innovation in Bioresource for Water-Food-Energy to Achieve Global Sustainability.” Despite the challenges of an online format, the event fostered global collaboration and knowledge exchange.
The course featured 20 distinguished speakers from top institutions, including the University of Borås, TU Delft, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Chiang Mai Rajabhat University, SimSuFoodS (Sweden), University of New South Wales (UNSW), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). Participants engaged in six core modules, including Anaerobic Wastewater Treatment, Membrane Technology for Water and Wastewater Treatment, Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass to Energy and Fuel, and Introduction to Life Cycle Assessment, which totaled 54 credit hours. These modules offered comprehensive insights into sustainable environmental technologies and practices.
The course included individual assignments, group discussions, and group presentations, encouraging participants to apply their knowledge to real-world challenges. These interactive sessions promoted collaboration and innovation, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving. The 2022 edition of WAFERS exemplified how online platforms can unite people from across the globe, reaffirming UGM’s role in promoting sustainable development and preparing future leaders to tackle the world’s environmental challenges.
