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The UNESCO Membrane Centre
Feature
T h e UNESCO M e m b r a n e C e n t r e A United N a t i o n s E d u c a t i o n a l , S c i e n t i f i c and Cultursl O r g a n / z a t i o n (UNESCO) Centre w a s e s t a b l i s h e d in N o v e m b e r 1992 at t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f N e w S o u t h Wales, Australia u n d e r t h e a u s p i c e s o f t h e e x i s t i n g C o m m o n w e a l t h S p e c i a l R e s e a r c h Centre for M e m b r a n e S c i e n c e and T e c h n o l o g y . Here t h e b a c k g r o u n d t o that e s t a b l i s h m e n t is described.
M e m b r a n e S c i e n c e and Technology
a n d is l i k e l y to h a v e a v e r y l a r g e socio-economic significance.
Synthetic membranes have come to p l a y a m a j o r r o l e i n m a n y industrial and biomedical processes, ranging from reverse o s m o s i s m e m b r a n e s in w a t e r d e s a l i n a t i o n p l a n t s to d i a l y s i s m e m b r a n e s in a r t i f i c i a l k i d n e y s . W h i l s t t h e f u n c t i o n s of b o t h biological membranes and synthetic membranes depend on p r o c e s s e s c o m m o n to b o t h , t h e r e s e a r c h a n d d e v e l o p m e n t in t h e s e two a r e a s h a s o f t e n b e e n p u r s u e d i n d e p e n d e n t l y of e a c h other. The Membrane Centre at the U n i v e r s i t y of N e w S o u t h W a l e s w a s e s t a b l i s h e d i n 1985 to promote both fundamental and a p p l i e d r e s e a r c h in b o t h biological and synthetic membranes and the development of related technologies. The Membrane Centre was selected as one of the Commonwealth Special R e s e a r c h C e n t r e s i n 1986.
T h e .~Ims o f t h e UNESCO C e n t r e
Membrane Industry M e m b r a n e s a r e u s e d in a h o s t of manufacturing processes such as product purification and separation processes during m a n u f a c t u r e , o r e e x t r a c t i o n , for the purification of water supplies for h u m a n c o n s u m p t i o n (eg. b y r e v e r s e o s m o s i s ) a s well a s o t h e r industrial purposes and the t r e a t m e n t a n d s a f e d i s p o s a l of w a s t e s ( i n c l u d i n g sewage). Membranes are also widely u s e d in t h e b i o m e d i c a l a r e n a for routine sterilization, protein separations, diagnostic tests, kidney dialysis systems to name b u t a few a p p l i c a t i o n s . R e c e n t w o r k , in t h e C e n t r e and elsewhere, has also h i g h l i g h t e d t h e u s e of m e m b r a n e technology in developing B i o s e n s o r s w h i c h a r e l i k e l y to have a major impact on Medicine
M e m b r a n e T e c h n o l o g y No. 3 2
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To p r o m o t e t h e a p p l i c a t i o n of Membrane Science and T e c h n o l o g y to i m p r o v e t h e q u a l i t y of llfe, p a r t i c u l a r l y in developing countries. To p r o v i d e t r a i n i n g in r e s e a r c h a n d a p p l i c a t i o n of m e m b r a n e s for t h e n e x t g e n e r a t i o n of science and engineering graduates from developing c o u n t r i e s in A s i a a n d A f r i c a and elsewhere. To c o n d u c t r e s e a r c h a n d d e v e l o p m e n t w h i c h will l e a d to t h e n e x t g e n e r a t i o n of m e m b r a n e b a s e d devices.
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To f o s t e r t h e e x c h a n g e of information at an i n t e r n a t i o n a l level o n t h e development and application of m e m b r a n e s for t h e b e n e f i t of all.
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To p r o m o t e f u n d a m e n t a l r e s e a r c h into m e m b r a n e processes, particularly at the m o l e c u l a r level i n b o t h living and synthetic systems.
How t h e UNESCO C e n t r e will help to achieve these aims E s t a b l i s h m e n t of t h e U N E S C O M e m b r a n e C e n t r e will a s s i s t i n a c h i e v i n g t h e s e a i m s in a n u m b e r of w a y s . •
It p r o v i d e s a p e r m a n e n t v e h i c l e for t h e i n t e r p l a y between scientists, engineers and students from various c o u n t r i e s , p a r t i c u l a r l y from A s i a a n d Africa a n d o t h e r developing countries.
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It will a s s i s t f o r e i g n s c i e n t i s t s
a n d e n g i n e e r s a n d s t u d e n t s to obtain funds from international and individual member government agencies to e n a b l e t h e m to s p e n d t i m e in t h e M e m b r a n e C e n t r e . The existence of a UNESCO Centre m a k e s t h i s easier. By v i r t u e of i t s v e r y e x i s t e n c e , it a c t s a s a f o c u s to a t t r a c t membrane experts from a r o u n d t h e w o r l d to s p e n d time at the Centre and thus p r o v i d e a n o p p o r t u n i t y for o t h e r s to i n t e r a c t w i t h t h e s e experts. It a s s i s t s i n o v e r c o m i n g o r lubricating any political/entry or exit v i s a p r o b l e m s associated with visits by f o r e i g n s c h o l a r s to t h e C e n t r e . It p r o v i d e s a r e a l s e n s e o f t h e c o n c e p t of t h e ' G l o b a l Village' to solve c o m m o n p r o b l e m s using a generic technology w h i c h is e n v i r o n m e n t a l l y 'friendly' a n d b i o l o g i c a l l y inspired.
Why in A u s t r a l i a ? A u s t r a l i a is l o c a t e d i n t h e Pacific rim. It is in a t / m e zone w h i c h is w i t h i n a few h o u r s o f m o s t of t h e Asian continent where a number of d e v e l o p i n g c o u n t r i e s a r e located. A u s t r a l i a h a s a well established scientific research and development infrastructure in g e n e r a l a n d in t h e m e m b r a n e field in p a r t i c u l a r . A u s t r a l i a h a s a well d e v e l o p e d membrane industry with an international presence.
Further Informatlon from: A.G. Fane, Professor of Chemical Engineering, University of N e w South Wales, P.O. Box 1, Kensington, N e w South Wales, Australia 2033. Tel: +612697 2222, ext. 4315. Fax: +612 622 1587.
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T h e UNESCO M e m b r a n e C e n t r e A United N a t i o n s E d u c a t i o n a l , S c i e n t i f i c and Cultursl O r g a n / z a t i o n (UNESCO) Centre w a s e s t a b l i s h e d in N o v e m b e r 1992 at t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f N e w S o u t h Wales, Australia u n d e r t h e a u s p i c e s o f t h e e x i s t i n g C o m m o n w e a l t h S p e c i a l R e s e a r c h Centre for M e m b r a n e S c i e n c e and T e c h n o l o g y . Here t h e b a c k g r o u n d t o that e s t a b l i s h m e n t is described.
M e m b r a n e S c i e n c e and Technology
a n d is l i k e l y to h a v e a v e r y l a r g e socio-economic significance.
Synthetic membranes have come to p l a y a m a j o r r o l e i n m a n y industrial and biomedical processes, ranging from reverse o s m o s i s m e m b r a n e s in w a t e r d e s a l i n a t i o n p l a n t s to d i a l y s i s m e m b r a n e s in a r t i f i c i a l k i d n e y s . W h i l s t t h e f u n c t i o n s of b o t h biological membranes and synthetic membranes depend on p r o c e s s e s c o m m o n to b o t h , t h e r e s e a r c h a n d d e v e l o p m e n t in t h e s e two a r e a s h a s o f t e n b e e n p u r s u e d i n d e p e n d e n t l y of e a c h other. The Membrane Centre at the U n i v e r s i t y of N e w S o u t h W a l e s w a s e s t a b l i s h e d i n 1985 to promote both fundamental and a p p l i e d r e s e a r c h in b o t h biological and synthetic membranes and the development of related technologies. The Membrane Centre was selected as one of the Commonwealth Special R e s e a r c h C e n t r e s i n 1986.
T h e .~Ims o f t h e UNESCO C e n t r e
Membrane Industry M e m b r a n e s a r e u s e d in a h o s t of manufacturing processes such as product purification and separation processes during m a n u f a c t u r e , o r e e x t r a c t i o n , for the purification of water supplies for h u m a n c o n s u m p t i o n (eg. b y r e v e r s e o s m o s i s ) a s well a s o t h e r industrial purposes and the t r e a t m e n t a n d s a f e d i s p o s a l of w a s t e s ( i n c l u d i n g sewage). Membranes are also widely u s e d in t h e b i o m e d i c a l a r e n a for routine sterilization, protein separations, diagnostic tests, kidney dialysis systems to name b u t a few a p p l i c a t i o n s . R e c e n t w o r k , in t h e C e n t r e and elsewhere, has also h i g h l i g h t e d t h e u s e of m e m b r a n e technology in developing B i o s e n s o r s w h i c h a r e l i k e l y to have a major impact on Medicine
M e m b r a n e T e c h n o l o g y No. 3 2
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To p r o m o t e t h e a p p l i c a t i o n of Membrane Science and T e c h n o l o g y to i m p r o v e t h e q u a l i t y of llfe, p a r t i c u l a r l y in developing countries. To p r o v i d e t r a i n i n g in r e s e a r c h a n d a p p l i c a t i o n of m e m b r a n e s for t h e n e x t g e n e r a t i o n of science and engineering graduates from developing c o u n t r i e s in A s i a a n d A f r i c a and elsewhere. To c o n d u c t r e s e a r c h a n d d e v e l o p m e n t w h i c h will l e a d to t h e n e x t g e n e r a t i o n of m e m b r a n e b a s e d devices.
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To f o s t e r t h e e x c h a n g e of information at an i n t e r n a t i o n a l level o n t h e development and application of m e m b r a n e s for t h e b e n e f i t of all.
•
To p r o m o t e f u n d a m e n t a l r e s e a r c h into m e m b r a n e processes, particularly at the m o l e c u l a r level i n b o t h living and synthetic systems.
How t h e UNESCO C e n t r e will help to achieve these aims E s t a b l i s h m e n t of t h e U N E S C O M e m b r a n e C e n t r e will a s s i s t i n a c h i e v i n g t h e s e a i m s in a n u m b e r of w a y s . •
It p r o v i d e s a p e r m a n e n t v e h i c l e for t h e i n t e r p l a y between scientists, engineers and students from various c o u n t r i e s , p a r t i c u l a r l y from A s i a a n d Africa a n d o t h e r developing countries.
•
It will a s s i s t f o r e i g n s c i e n t i s t s
a n d e n g i n e e r s a n d s t u d e n t s to obtain funds from international and individual member government agencies to e n a b l e t h e m to s p e n d t i m e in t h e M e m b r a n e C e n t r e . The existence of a UNESCO Centre m a k e s t h i s easier. By v i r t u e of i t s v e r y e x i s t e n c e , it a c t s a s a f o c u s to a t t r a c t membrane experts from a r o u n d t h e w o r l d to s p e n d time at the Centre and thus p r o v i d e a n o p p o r t u n i t y for o t h e r s to i n t e r a c t w i t h t h e s e experts. It a s s i s t s i n o v e r c o m i n g o r lubricating any political/entry or exit v i s a p r o b l e m s associated with visits by f o r e i g n s c h o l a r s to t h e C e n t r e . It p r o v i d e s a r e a l s e n s e o f t h e c o n c e p t of t h e ' G l o b a l Village' to solve c o m m o n p r o b l e m s using a generic technology w h i c h is e n v i r o n m e n t a l l y 'friendly' a n d b i o l o g i c a l l y inspired.
Why in A u s t r a l i a ? A u s t r a l i a is l o c a t e d i n t h e Pacific rim. It is in a t / m e zone w h i c h is w i t h i n a few h o u r s o f m o s t of t h e Asian continent where a number of d e v e l o p i n g c o u n t r i e s a r e located. A u s t r a l i a h a s a well established scientific research and development infrastructure in g e n e r a l a n d in t h e m e m b r a n e field in p a r t i c u l a r . A u s t r a l i a h a s a well d e v e l o p e d membrane industry with an international presence.
Further Informatlon from: A.G. Fane, Professor of Chemical Engineering, University of N e w South Wales, P.O. Box 1, Kensington, N e w South Wales, Australia 2033. Tel: +612697 2222, ext. 4315. Fax: +612 622 1587.
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