PhD Candidate, Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge

Shiyao is a researcher and young entrepreneur. He is currently a full time PhD student, developing a cleaning technique, fluid dynamic gauging. The technique was originally developed to measure the buildup or removal of the fouling layers commonly encountered in the process industry. Scanning versions can determine the topology of a solid/soft-solid surface immersed in a liquid environment, in an analogous manner to an atomic force microscope. Key features of the technique are that it can study soft deposit layers without touching them, relies on relatively simple operating principles, can be used in a completely opaque liquid, and does not rely on knowledge of the fluid or deposit properties.

Shiyao was previously one of the Energy Directors at Innovation Forum. He is keen on building bridges between academia, industry and government, and linking innovative minds across disciplines. He has strong interests in technologies in the areas of water/air pollution control, waste management, water purification and soil remediation. He believes there is a huge market for innovative techniques in such areas for tackling environmental issues in China.