Professor Chunshan Song is a globally recognized leader in chemical sciences and energy research, currently serving as Dean of the Faculty of Science and Wei Lun Professor of Chemistry at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. He assumed this prestigious position in July 2020, following a distinguished 22-year tenure at The Pennsylvania State University where he directed the EMS Energy Institute and held appointments as Distinguished Professor of Fuel Science and courtesy Professor of Chemical Engineering. His academic foundation includes a Ph.D. in Applied Chemistry from Osaka University in Japan, complemented by undergraduate training in Chemical Engineering at Dalian University of Technology in China. Throughout his career, Professor Song has maintained international scholarly connections through visiting professorships at Imperial College London and Sorbonne University, establishing himself as a bridge between Eastern and Western scientific communities.
Professor Song's pioneering research focuses on carbon dioxide utilization, advanced catalysis, and sustainable energy conversion technologies that address critical global environmental challenges. His scholarly output comprises over 440 refereed journal publications, 33 book chapters, and 8 patents that have significantly shaped the field of energy chemistry and environmental science. As the longstanding Chair of the International Scientific Committee for the International Conference on Carbon Dioxide Utilization since 2013, he has spearheaded global research initiatives that transformed theoretical concepts into practical carbon management strategies. His innovative approaches to catalytic CO2 conversion have established new scientific frameworks that continue to guide international research efforts in climate change mitigation.
Beyond his research excellence, Professor Song exercises profound influence through leadership in major professional organizations and academic initiatives worldwide. He currently chairs the Awards Committee for the Energy and Fuels Division of the American Chemical Society and serves on the International Advisory Committee for Xiamen University's State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces. His mentorship has cultivated the next generation of scientists, having guided over 70 graduate students and supervised more than 30 postdoctoral researchers throughout his career. As Founding Director of CUHK's Earth and Environmental Science Programme, Professor Song continues to advance interdisciplinary research that integrates chemistry, energy systems, and sustainability science while strengthening Hong Kong's position as a global hub for environmental innovation.
