Recently, Professor Lars Wågberg, Academician of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA), Professor at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology, and recipient of the 2024 Anselme Payen Award of the American Chemical Society, was invited to visit the College of Materials Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China (OUC). During his visit, Professor Wågberg delivered the 165th lecture of the “Distinguished Overseas Scholars Lecture Series” at OUC, entitled “Interactions between Cellulose Surfaces—Hornification and Fundamental Considerations”.
Professor Lars Wågberg lecture hall of overseas famous teachers
In his lecture, Professor Wågberg systematically introduced the kinetic and thermodynamic fundamentals of interactions between cellulose fibers and water, as well as his research group’s latest advances in the construction of cellulose model surfaces and material functionalization. He emphasized that these fundamental insights are of great significance for enhancing the performance of cellulose-based materials and for the development of novel bio-based materials with functionalities such as antibacterial activity, electrical conductivity, and flame retardancy.
Exchange and discussion session
Following his presentation, Dr. Zhen Wang, a member of Professor Wågberg’s visiting delegation and a faculty member of the School of Chemical Engineering, Ocean and Life Sciences at Dalian University of Technology, delivered a report entitled “Charge-Programmed Additive Manufacturing of Ultra-Light Antennas”. The subsequent Q&A session sparked lively discussions between Professor Wågberg and the attending faculty members and students.
Participants in the lecture included Dr. Pia Wågberg, also an Academician of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences; Associate Professor Zhen Wang from Dalian University of Technology; Associate Professor Hailong Li from the School of Chemical Engineering at Dalian University of Technology; Assistant Professor Junhao Huang from Xihua University; Assistant Professors Kaitao Zhang and Liming Zhang from Qingdao University; as well as faculty members and students from the College of Materials Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China.
Professor Lars Wågberg is widely recognized as one of the pioneers in the international field of cellulose research. He has long been devoted to the study of surface and colloid chemistry in aqueous cellulose systems, achieving a series of internationally influential results in the interfacial kinetics and thermodynamics of cellulose–water interactions. He developed the preparation method for carboxymethylated nanocellulose, co-founded several technology companies including CelluXtreme, Cellufy, and InnScight, and has received numerous honors such as the Ekman Medal of Sweden and Fellowship of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
This lecture not only enhanced faculty members’ and students’ understanding of frontier scientific issues in cellulose surface and interfacial chemistry, but also strengthened the College’s international collaboration in the field of functional materials based on natural polymers, further broadening the global academic horizons of its faculty and students.
Visit the lab
After the lecture, Professor Wågberg and his delegation visited relevant research laboratories and shared experimental platforms of the College. In-depth discussions were conducted with faculty members and students on topics including scientific research collaboration and talent cultivation.
Group photo
Text: Zhang Wenyu
Images: Ma Wenxin
