First Sino-German steering committee workshop in Aachen

On December 11th, 2017, the first Sino-German steering committee workshop for the BMBF project WATCH was held on schedule with great success. After an opening address by Prof. Pinnekamp and a round of brief self-introductions, Prof. Shijing Yan, Vice Rector of the Sichuan University (SCU) gave his speech by video (see Annex for the program and participant list).

The professors and scientists from China and Germany presented their research activities and focuses. The topics presented were very extensive, ranging from a variety of technologies for wastewater treatment, to resource management and recovery, environmental toxicology, health risk assessment, and emerging information infrastructures for medication management. All these topics were discussed comprehensively.

The main objective of the bilateral steering committee was to establish development strategies and measures for implementing the WATCH project in the start-up phase, for which a discussion round was scheduled. Under the direction of Prof. Pinnekamp, all participants actively participated in the discussion. Many suggestions and ideas emerged in the discussion round. After that, development strategies for WATCH are defined.

The workshop was very successful in two aspects. Firstly, we got to know each other well. Secondly, the topics and contents of the presentations were very broad and interesting. This workshop was a good basis for future cooperation and a good start to a long-standing cooperation. On the basis of this successful workshop, we will generate new projects.

On December 12th, 2017 in the morning, the Chinese delegation accompanied by the coordinator visited the hospital wastewater treatment plant (wwtp) in Marienhospital Gelsenkirchen. Dr. Sven Lyko from the Development and Support department of Emschergenossenschaft presented the applied innovative technologies (MBR-zonation-PAC-combination), which impressed the Chinese delegation very much.

In the afternoon, the delegation visited the Development and Assessment Institute in Waste Water Technology at RWTH Aachen University (PIA). Dr. Dorgeloh, the managing Director of PIA and Dr. Pang, the director of Research Department from China Water Environment Group Ltd (CWEG), introduced their company and business areas. The participants talked constructively about possibilities for cooperation and further action.

First Sino-German steering committee workshop in Aachen on December 11th, 2017

Visiting the hospital wwtp Marienhospital Gelsenkirche on December 11th, 2017

Visiting the PIA at RWTH Aachen University