Under the Banner “Sustainability Challenges in Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemical Industries “
KACST & Oxford University Organize the 1st Joint Scientific Forum

Under the title “Sustainability Challenges in Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemical Industries”, activities of the first joint scientific forum organized by King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and University of Oxford would be launched during the period 19-22 current July 2011 corresponding to 18-21 Sha’aban 1432 with the aim of concentrating on developing highly efficient, economically feasible, clean and environment-friendly technologies.
Prince Dr. Turki Bin Saud Bin Mohammad Al Saud, KACST Vice President for Research Institutes and Professor Andrew Hamilton Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford would inaugurate the forum that would be held in Oxford University in the UK and where Prince Turki would present the opening lecture.
The forum that would cover four days would discuss various thematic areas including Petrochemicals and producing economically feasible smart materials, renewable energy and producing carbon-neutral synthetic fuels from CO2,   the socio-economics of energy futures: oil, natural gas and petrochemicals, innovation in crude oil, synthetic oil and gas refining and processing and processes for value-added fine chemicals.

The forum reviews, within seven sessions, 25 scientific papers presented by researchers from various scientific and technological universities and bodies such as KACST, University of Oxford, Cardiff University, University of St Andrews, UK,  Louisiana State University, USA, Lotus Engineering, UK, University of Bari, Italy, Pujing Chemical Industry (Ltd, China) and many other international academic and industrial institutions.
This forum is one of the fruits of the KACST-Oxford Joint Research Centre that has been established in 2010 with the aim of conducting joint research projects, cooperating with the global leading  research centres in petrochemicals, exchanging analytical and technological data, exchanging experts and researches between KACST and University of Oxford, holding joint conferences, symposia, forums and workshops, training some students from KACST in Oxford University and admitting KACST’s higher-studies in Oxford University.
It is worth mentioning that this forum would alternatively between KACST and Oxford University on annual basis. For more information about the forum, kindly visit the following link:
http://users.ox.ac.uk/~iclb0195/Forum/Home.html