The University of Vigo will host the 5th European School on Environmental Applications of Advanced Oxidation Processes (5th EPS-AOPs) from 4 to 6 November. This international scientific gathering will bring together experts, researchers, doctoral students, and industry representatives to discuss the latest advancements in environmental decontamination technologies and sustainable water treatment.
The event will take place at the School of Industrial Engineering and is supported by the International School on Environmental Applications of Advanced Oxidation Processes (IPS-AOP), a prominent scientific network comprising researchers from 25 countries. The local organisation is led by Ángeles Sanromán and Marta Pazos, researchers at Cintecx, the Centre for Research in Technologies and Industrial Processes at the University of Vigo, with assistance from an international committee including Luigi Rizzo, IPS-AOP coordinator; Sixto Malato, regional coordinator for Europe; and Camila Amorim, regional coordinator for Latin America.
“The opportunity to organise this fifth edition in Vigo arises from our connection with the international scientific community working on advanced oxidation processes and the track record of the Biosuv group in this field. We are pleased to bring together internationally renowned researchers at the University of Vigo and to contribute to establishing this meeting as a space for scientific exchange and collaboration,”
said Ángeles Sanromán, the meeting's coordinator and principal investigator of the Biosub group.
The primary aim of the event is to promote the exchange of scientific and technological knowledge in the field of advanced oxidation processes (AOP) applied to water decontamination and environmental protection. Recent advancements in this area will be presented, fostering scientific debate among prestigious international researchers and encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration among universities, research centres, and the industrial sector.
“We expect to gather around a hundred participants, including established researchers, doctoral students, and professionals from the sector. One of the main values of this meeting is precisely to facilitate contact between specialists from different countries and new generations of researchers, promoting the exchange of experiences and the creation of future collaborations,”
noted Marta Pazos, the meeting's coordinator.
The event will feature prominent international experts such as André Torres-Pinto from the University of Porto, Grzegorz Boczkaj from Gdansk University of Technology, and Suresh Pillai from Atlantic Technological University Sligo, alongside national figures like Elisa González-Romero from the University of Vigo and Fernando Juan Beltrán from the University of Extremadura. Their extensive experience in advanced oxidation processes, water treatment and reuse, environmental decontamination, circular economy, and sustainable technologies will provide participants with a comprehensive view of the key challenges and opportunities shaping the future of environmental engineering and sustainable water resource management.
Throughout the three-day event, the programme will combine plenary lectures by leading specialists, scientific communications, poster sessions for emerging researchers, round tables, and debate activities aimed at identifying the major future challenges of environmental decontamination.
“One aspect we want to highlight about this meeting is the connection between scientific research and its application in the industrial reality. A technical visit to the wastewater treatment facilities and Aqualia's drinking water plant in Vigo will allow participants to witness real applications of these technologies and underscore the importance of collaboration between the university and the business sector,”
emphasised Ángeles Sanromán and Marta Pazos.
The 5th EPS-AOPs enjoys the support of entities committed to innovation, sustainability, and knowledge development, including the University of Vigo, Cintecx, the School of Industrial Engineering, the International Doctorate School (EIDO), and the Centre for Postgraduate and Continuing Education at the University of Vigo, as well as the Social Council of the University of Vigo, Aqualia, the City Council of Vigo, and the Provincial Council of Pontevedra.
Beyond its scientific impact, this international conference will help enhance the visibility of Vigo and the University of Vigo within the European research landscape, fostering new international collaborations, attracting research talent, and transferring knowledge to society and the productive sector.
