Memorandum of Understanding is Signed Between the University of Kansas and the Technical University of Lodz, Poland

On January 23rd, 2008, KU Chancellor Robert Hemmenway signed an Agreement of Cultural, Educational and Scientific Cooperation between the University of Kansas, and the Technical University of Lodz, Poland. The memorandum was signed on behalf of the Technical University by the Rektor, Professor Jan Krysinski at a signing ceremony (below) on January 9th, 2008 in Poland attended by Dr Laurence Weatherley, Chair of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering at KU.

Left to right - Professor Jerzy Petera - Chemical Engineering, TU Lodz, Dr Laurence Weatherley KU; Professor Jan Krysinski . Rektor (seated) ; Professor Andrzej Napieralski Vice-Rektor for Promotion of International Cooperation; Dr Tomasz Saryusz Wolski, The Director of the International Faculty of Engineering

Dr Weatherley initiated the signing of the agreement following a number of years of active collaboration with the Faculty of Process and Environmental Engineering at the Technical University of Lodz. The collaboration has resulted in a series of ground breaking publications in advanced finite element modeling of the behavior of complex multi-phase liquid-liquid reactors. Working with the Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis, Drs Aaron Scurto and Dr Weatherley have recently secured National Science Foundation funding to strengthen collaboration with researchers at the Technical University of Lodz in a new project to understand the behavior of ionic liquid solvents. Professor Jerzy Petera's finite element modeling group at TU Lodz is a key part of the collaboration which will continue to take advantage of the complementary strengths of the two research groups. This will involve visits and placements of the Drs Weatherley and Scurto, and Professor Jerzy Petera at the respective universities for short periods.

Another significant component of the collaboration has been the delivery of a series of lectures by Dr Weatherley at the International Faculty of Engineering which is part of the Technical University of Lodz. The International Faculty of Engineering at Lodz, provides instruction in english by international scholars to some of the best engineering students at the Technical University. Dr Weatherley.s lectures given annually over the last 3 years have been in the areas of Green Chemistry and Engineering, and Environmental Management.

Further information about the Technical University of Lodz is available at www.p.lodz.pl