NTU-CEE Distinguished Speaker Series: Professor Z. Jason REN

Organized By

CEE Seminar Committee

Host By

Associate Professor SHE Qianhong

Topic

From Data Science to Decarbonization: Engineering the Circular Water Future

About the Seminar

Achieving carbon circularity in the water sector requires integrated strategies to quantify, mitigate, and re-valorize the carbon flaws. Wastewater systems are evolving from removal-centered treatment toward carbon-aware, recovery-oriented management. Advances in AI and machine learning enable dynamic, more accurate GHG accounting by integrating field measurements, hybrid models, and literature mining to resolve emission pathways and identify mitigation.

Water-domain language models further accelerate knowledge synthesis and structured data extraction. Coupled with emerging electrified treatment and carbon conversion technologies, these approaches provide a coherent foundation for the circular water economy.

About the Speaker

Dr Z. Jason Ren, is a Professor in Princeton University's Civil and Environmental Engineering Department and former acting director of the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment. His research focuses on the water-energy nexus through digitalization, electrification, and the decarbonization of environmental and chemical systems.

He has published more than 260 peer-reviewed articles, one book, and 10 granted or pending patents, and he co-founded two startups with students. His honors include the AEESP Frontier in Research Award, the Paul Busch Award, and the Huber Research Prize. He is a Fellow of RSC, IWA, and AAAS. He is an executive editor for the Journal of ES&T.