Welcome

The AID4GEA UNESCO Chair on Technologies and Materials for Green and Energy Applications aims at empowering the awareness of the key role of advanced materials and technologies to promote sustainable development, especially in developing countries.  It targets two strategic objectives of the UNESCO’s Medium-term Strategy (2022-29): “Ensure quality equitable and inclusive education” and “Work towards sustainable societies and protecting the environment”, and the five strategic objectives of the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2024 (STISA-2024) report.  Human activities are pervaded by materials in all aspects, from industrial production to daily life, and functional materials enable unprecedented possibilities compared to the past. However, societal development must consider attentive use of the natural resources, including the strong reduction of anthropogenic effects on the climate and environment. Materials and production technologies are central for sustainable development: they improve the quality of life and, at the same time, can offer solutions for environmental remediation and efficient use of energy sources. A few examples: materials for hydrogen production, solar energy conversion and storage, water desalination and purification, and treatment of contaminated soil. A circular life cycle is necessary, in which re-use and recycling of wastes are central.  AID4GEA promotes this awareness through capacity building at the local level, by creating a network of teaching/research institutions, and the most authoritative societies worldwide in the field. North-South-South and South-South cooperation includes student and researcher exchange, support for doctoral and postdoctoral researchers from developing countries, setting joint research and educational projects, and sharing knowledge through multilateral symposia and workshops. AID4GEA targets increased awareness at the societal level through specific actions involving the public, stakeholders, and policy makers. Focus is on need-driven requests from partners from developing countries. In the long-term AID4GEA will set in society a new vision of the use and re-use of materials through education and competence development toward sustainable development.