Scientific Research to Improve the Ecological Environment

 

Devotion to Fossil Energy Research

 

Long Ran’s studies focus on the design and controllable synthesis of inorganic functional materials, and on the establishment of their structure-activity relationship based on synchrotron radiation characterization and its catalytic applications. “My main research interest is catalyst design. Recently, I began research on using solar energy for catalytic conversion.” Long Ran confirmed that the carbon content in the ecosphere has increased rapidly over recent decades. Statistics show that the rise of the Earth’s temperature coupled with concentrations of carbon dioxide will inevitably lead to many ecological problems.

 

“Effective use of a catalyst in a highly targeted approach to transforming carbon dioxide into gas or liquid fuel will reduce the carbon emissions caused by humans and slow down the escalation of carbon dioxide concentration in the ecosphere. It will also retard the Earth’s temperature rise,” Long Ran said. In the process of converting carbon dioxide to fuel she intends to transform it into methane.

 

Long Ran explained that a high-performance catalyst could lessen the energy consumption and pollution generated by various chemical reactions. Therefore, catalysis science indeed closely relates to energy and natural environment issues.

 

Long Ran has made periodical achievements in her field of research. They include the publication of 30 or more papers in international authoritative journals, and winning the President’s Special Award and the National Excellent Doctoral Dissertation of CAS. Long Ran’s short-term target is “to enhance as much as possible the activity and selectivity of carbon dioxide catalytic conversion. I hope that in the future we can establish an artificial carbon cycle driven by solar energy and so alleviate the yearly increase of carbon dioxide in the ecosphere.”

 

A Scientific Research Environment

 

Long Ran told China Today that exchanges and communications with international colleagues are crucial to her scientific research. “Currently, the research on carbon dioxide conversion in all nations is at a fundamental stage,” Long Ran said. “Our final goal is to resolve this problem together with scientists throughout the world.”

 

After a decade of experience in scientific research, Long Ran has discerned growing improvements in the domestic scientific research environment. Advanced equipment and platforms at her university and laboratory are open to all scientific researchers. International exchanges also provide opportunities to communicate with researchers at the world forefront. This holistic improvement makes Long Ran believe that “more and more Chinese scientists will win world-class scientific research awards.”

 

Before winning the L’Oreal-UNESCO International Rising Talent Fellowship, Long Ran was selected in 2016 for the China Association for Science and Technology “future female scientist program.” She supports these initiatives for the development of female scientific researchers. “These plans are truly encouraging, especially for those who have just started their career and expect to do research in order to achieve their development goals,” Long Ran said.

 

“I’m an ordinary person doing a regular job. But I hope my work might help to improve the human living environment.”