Current as of 31/05/2023

Dongke Zhang FTSE is an experienced member of the academic staff of the UWA Department of Chemical Engineering and the inaugural director of the UWA Centre for Energy. His research interests spread over combustion science and technology, fire and explosion; fuel conversion and processing; electric power generation; coke making for ironmaking and pyrometallurgy; natural gas combustion and reforming; gas, coal and biomass to liquid; petroleum processing and refining, innovative and zero-carbon fuels; hydrogen and ammonia direct reduced iron; waste valorisation and waste to energy, bioenergy; chemical reaction engineering and kinetics; applied catalysis and surface science; CO2 capture technologies and abatement strategies, negative emission technologies; and energy options and sustainable energy development. However, he is more interested in swimming and general aviation when he is not making anything that burns or when he is not burning anything. He resigned from his fellowship from Engineers Australia but remains as a fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) and Institute of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), for the time-being. He upholds the traditional academic values and adheres to scientific principles in an increasingly PC and woke environment. As a contemporary scientist and a “can-do” engineer, he believes that the true value of academic research is best measured by its practical use. Knowledge belongs to the society and technology belongs to the industry. He has repeatedly demonstrated his ability and the “dare to push the limits” attitude in successfully transforming his scientific imaginations into commercial realities through persistent strategic fundamental research, tactical applied research and technological innovations.

High international standing for leadership and personal contributions in R&D on combustion science and technology, energy, applied catalysis, and process engineering, which enhanced energy efficiency, environmental performance, operation safety and product development of many energy and process industries in Australia and provided major support and innovative technological services to a broad range of Australian industries. Leadership in the establishment and management of a successful University centre for research and research training in sustainable energy, processing and environmental technologies and their
applications. Key roles in the establishment of CRC for Coal in Sustainable Development and in Australian hydrogen economy movement.