Under the Patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member, Ruler of Sharjah and President of American University of Sharjah (AUS), opened the Second UAE conference on Pure Applied Chemistry (ECPAC16) today, March 1, 2016, at the university's Main Building. Organized by the Department of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences, the conference facilitates the exchange of scientific knowledge and advances in research between scientists from industry, academia and government organizations.

At the opening ceremony, Dr. Amin Majdalaweih, Associate Professor of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, thanked the conference attendees for their participation. AUS Chancellor Björn Kjerfve welcomed the attendees and briefed them about the background of AUS as a leading higher education institution in the region.

"This second conference is a result of the great success of our first conference that took place in 2011. We are confident that many more conferences will follow to provide an international platform for the exchange of scientific ideas that are vital for everyday human life," said Dr. Imad Abu-Yousef, Professor of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences.

The basic themes of the conference include analytical chemistry, biochemistry, catalysis, computational chemistry, inorganic chemistry, instrumentation, material and surface sciences, medicinal chemistry, nanotechnology, electrochemistry, organic chemistry, polymer chemistry, physical chemistry, environmental chemistry, forensic applications, and green and sustainable energy.

The conference will continue through March 2, 2016.