Young researcher exchange

by Katrina Phelps

Krasimir Vasilev, Senior Lecturer at the Mawson Institute and School of Advanced Manufacturing, has returned from China after being one of eight Australians selected to participate in the Australia-China Young Scientist Exchange Program.

Run by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Dr Vasilev spent two weeks in China for the exchange program, and has come back to UniSA with research networks and prospects for collaboration with national and international peers.

“I met a number of excellent researchers from Peking and Tsingua universities,” Dr Vasilev said. “There were some who I had a lot in common with in regards to our research interests which helped us to quickly identify collaborative opportunities.

“I have already started working on collaborative projects with professors from these two universities.

“The program was also an excellent opportunity to meet and develop relationships with the other emerging Australia research leaders who were taking part in the exchange.

“I have already started working on a collaborative project with Dr Chris Fell from CSIRO and Dr Wallace Wong from the University of Melbourne, on novel organic solar cells by plasma polymerization.”

While in China Dr Vasilev also discussed the possibility of exchange programs between UniSA and Peking and Tsingua universities for staff, and undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as joint PhD supervision and joint undergraduate programs in the field of chemistry, advanced materials and molecular engineering.

Dr Vasilev was nominated by UniSA to apply for the exchange program.

“The aim of the visit was to build links between Australian and Chinese scientists and institutions, and this was certainly achieved,” Dr Vasilev said.

“The whole trip was a great experience but if I had to pick one highlight, it would be the last day at the Australian Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo where I presented on my activities and outcomes from the exchange."

All eight of the Australian participants made presentations to a large audience that day, which included representatives from the Australian Embassy in China, as well as the two organising institutions.