We are delighted to announce that Professor Philippe Dubois, a longstanding member of EurASc and currently serving as a member of the Scientific Committee of the Engineering Division, as received the title Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of Montpellier.
Professor Dubois, renowned for his pioneering work in green chemistry and materials science, was honored by the University of Montpellier for his outstanding contributions to scientific research and innovation. His remarkable achievements include over 800 peer-reviewed scientific publications, 76 patents, and numerous awards recognizing his commitment to advancing science and sustainability.
Born in Charleroi, Belgium, in 1965, Professor Dubois has dedicated his career to interdisciplinary research at the intersection of synthetic chemistry and materials engineering. His groundbreaking research into bioplastics and renewable bioresources has revolutionized the field, leading to significant advancements in eco-friendly materials and processes.
In addition to his distinguished academic career, Professor Dubois has held various leadership roles at the University of Mons, where he currently serves as President and Rector. His vision for the university prioritizes academic excellence, international collaboration, and the well-being of students, faculty, and researchers.
The University of Montpellier’s decision to confer the title of Doctor Honoris Causa upon Professor Dubois reflects his profound impact on the scientific community and his dedication to advancing knowledge and innovation.
We extend our warmest congratulations to Professor Philippe Dubois on this well-deserved honor and look forward to his continued contributions to the field of science.
This news article serves as a testament to Professor Dubois’s remarkable achievements and underscores EurASc’s commitment to recognizing excellence in science and innovation.
We’re thrilled to announce that Professor Rodrigo Martins has been recognized as CAS PIFI’s ( President’s International Fellowship Iniciative) Distinguished Scientist, joining an esteemed group of professionals dedicated to advancing research excellence.
Even more exciting, this honor has paved the way for the establishment of a new research network in China with CAS. We’re look forward to the upcoming ceremony scheduled for June.
The European Academy of Sciences (EurASc) is proud to announce that our esteemed member, Professor Omar M. Yaghi, has been honored with the 2024 Ernest Solvay Prize. This recognition underscores his pioneering contributions to reticular chemistry, a field dedicated to constructing chemical structures from molecular building blocks.
Reticular chemistry holds immense promise for the future, with applications ranging from CO2 capture and hydrogen storage to water harvesting and gas purification.
**About Professor Omar M. Yaghi:** Professor Yaghi, holding the James and Neeltje Tretter Chair Professorship in Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley, has been an integral part of EurASc since 2018. His groundbreaking work has significantly advanced the understanding and application of reticular chemistry, contributing to the scientific community’s pursuit of innovative solutions.
**Award Ceremony Details:** The award ceremony for the Ernest Solvay Prize by Syensqo is scheduled to take place at the Palais des Académies in Brussels on March 19, 2024. [Register HERE]
Join us in congratulating Prof. Omar M. Yaghi on this well-deserved recognition, showcasing the exceptional caliber of our EurASc members and their impactful contributions to the scientific community.
We are pleased to invite you to nominate candidates for the prestigious Blaise Pascal Medals and the esteemed Leonardo da Vinci Award. Your nominations can include members of the European Academy of Sciences or non-members who have made outstanding contributions to their respective fields.
🏅 **Blaise Pascal Medal** 🏅 – Nominations must be submitted before January 15th(*extended deadline: February 29th). – Up to 8 Blaise Pascal Medals can be awarded, following careful selection within the scientific committee of each division and final approval by the General Board.
🏆 **Leonardo Da Vinci Award** 🏆 – Nominations must be submitted before February 29th. – The Leonardo da Vinci Award is a singular honor, with the recipient selected by the presidium based on propositions from different divisions.
Your participation in this nomination process is vital, and we encourage you to recognize those who have demonstrated exceptional contributions to science and technology.
Catherine Llorens-Cortes Receives Prestigious Medal for Applications of Science 2023 from the French Academy of Sciences
We are delighted to announce that Catherine Llorens-Cortes, a distinguished member of the European Academy of Sciences (EurASc), has been awarded the Medal for Applications of Science 2023 by the French Academy of Sciences. This esteemed recognition is a testament to her exceptional contributions in the field of neuropharmacology.
For over two decades, Catherine Llorens-Cortes served as the Director of the Central Laboratory of Neuropeptides and Water and Cardiovascular Regulations at the Collège de France (Inserm U691). In 2011, her laboratory integrated into the Interdisciplinary Center for Research in Biology at CDF (Inserm U1050/CNRS 7241), solidifying her legacy of research and leadership.
Catherine’s groundbreaking work has led to the identification of novel therapeutic targets for conditions such as arterial hypertension, heart failure, and hyponatremia. These discoveries have not only advanced scientific understanding but have also paved the way for the development of various therapeutically relevant molecules.
One standout achievement is Firibastat, the first aminopeptidase A inhibitor to penetrate the brain. This innovative compound has demonstrated the ability to normalize blood pressure in various experimental hypertension models and improve cardiac function in a post-myocardial infarction heart failure model.
Clinical trials post-myocardial infarction have shown that Firibastat prevents left ventricular dysfunction with good blood pressure tolerance, showcasing the practical implications of Catherine Llorens-Cortes’s research in healthcare.
Her discovery of metabolically stable analogs of apelin, such as LIT01-196, suggests a novel approach for treating hyponatremia. Activation of the apelin receptor by this compound represents a promising avenue for addressing this condition.
EurASc takes immense pride in Catherine Llorens-Cortes’s well-deserved recognition. Her exceptional contributions to science and technology align perfectly with the mission of EurASc, and we are honored to have her as a distinguished member.
As we celebrate this achievement, we look forward to witnessing the continued impact of Catherine Llorens-Cortes’s groundbreaking research on the future of therapeutics and healthcare.
The European Academy of Sciences is thrilled to share that two of its members, Ferenc Krausz and Anne L’Huillier, have been named among the 2023 Nobel Laureates in Physics for their groundbreaking work in generating attosecond pulses of light for the study of electron dynamics in matter.
Additionally, Pierre Agostini was also honored for his contributions to this field.
We are proud to have such innovative and accomplished individuals among our membership.
Congratulations to all three on this well-deserved recognition!
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics to Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz and Anne L’Huillier “for experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of light for the study of electron dynamics in matter.”
The 2023 Nobel Prize laureates in physics are being recognised for their experiments, which have given humanity new tools for exploring the world of electrons inside atoms and molecules. Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz and Anne L’Huillier have demonstrated a way to create extremely short pulses of light that can be used to measure the rapid processes in which electrons move or change energy.
The laureates’ contributions have enabled the investigation of processes that are so rapid they were previously impossible to follow.
There are potential applications in many different areas. In electronics, for example, it is important to understand and control how electrons behave in a material. Attosecond pulses can also be used to identify different molecules, such as in medical diagnostics.
Professor Mohan Edirisinghe OBE, FREng, University College London awarded by The Royal Society with Clifford Paterson Medal and Lecture 2024 for seminal research in engineering science of making small structures from soft matter in novel scalable ways, creating new frontiers in functional applications causing major advances in manufacturing and healthcare.
The Clifford Paterson Medal and Lecture is given for outstanding contributions in the field of engineering. The lectureship was originally endowed by The General Electric Company in memory of Clifford Paterson FRS, who founded the GEC Research Laboratories in 1919. Originally the lectures were given on electrical science and technology but this was later broadened to any aspect of engineering. The first lecture was given in 1975. The medal is of bronze, is awarded biennially and is accompanied by a gift of £2,000.
These two institutions are among the most prestigious in China. The Institute of Materials at Wuham University is the best in the field of materials among the 4500 institutes in the country and the fifth best institute in China. The Hefei Institute of Physical Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences is considered the second best in all of China in the field of Sciences.
This distinction recognises the academic and research merit of the professor, who has published more than 700 papers during his career and has won more than 14 international and national awards and distinctions for his work over the past 10 years.
In addition to being a professor at NOVA FCT, Rodrigo Martins is Director of the Centre of Excellence in Microelectronics and Optoelectronic Processes of the Institute for the Development of New Technologies (CEMOP/UNINOVA) and President of the European Academy of Sciences (EurASc) and past President of the International Union of Materials Research Societies (IUMRS).
Professor Roger Falconer was honored with the Chinese Government Friendship Award and Medal from Dr Zhu Jiang, Deputy Director, International Economic and Technical Cooperation and Exchange Centre (INTCE), Ministry of Water Resources.
‘The Friendship Award is the highest award to commend foreign experts’ who have ‘made contributions to China’s modernization drive’ and I have benefitted immensely from collaborating with Chinese scholars and practitioners since 1981.
Professor Falconer first started collaborating with China through Tongji University and have since worked with several leading universities and government institutes.
Examples include:
(i) Tongji University: designing harbours and marinas to maximise water quality; (ii) Tsinghua University: developing a model CONTANK to reduce chlorine levels in disinfection tanks; (iv) Tianjin University and Municipal Government: modelling Bohai Bay and Sea to balance economic development of the Bay for increased shipping, balanced with minimal environmental impact; (v) Wuhan University: developing urban models and formulations for stability of people and vehicles in floods; (vi) Hohai University and the Yangtse Institute for Conservation and Presentation: collaborating on global water security and sustainable water management.
Through these collaborations and Honorary Professor appointments at several universities and institutes, Falconer had the opportunity of co-authoring over 120 journal publications with Chinese scholars.
Whilst in China Prof. Falconer also visited the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) to receive the certificate of election as a Foreign Member in 2019 and delivered the second CAE Lead Lecture on ‘Global Water Security: Modelling for Sustainable Flood, Water Quality and Health Risk Assessment’ at a CAE LEADS and IWHR River Dialogue Livestreaming event.
The European Academy of Sciences congratulates Professor Roger Falconer for such a distinguished recognition that honours and enhances Prof’s whole professional career as well as our Academy.
We have the pleasure to announce the Leonardo da Vinci Award and Blaise Pascal Medallists 2023.
The awards will be presented at the Annual Symposium of the Academy on Oct. 23-24, 2023, in Madrid Spain.
Leonardo da Vinci Award – Professor J. N. Reddy
The European Academy of Sciences is very pleased to announce that Professor Junuthua N. Reddy, the Distinguished and Regents’ Professor at Texas A&M University, has been named the recipient of the 2023 Leonardo da Vinci Award, the Academy’s highest honor. Dr. Reddy is being recognized for his original and continuing contributions to research and educational activities related to composite materials and structures. In addition, Dr. Reddy is internationally renowned and highly cited for his research in the fields of applied and computational mechanics.
Blaise Pascal Medallist in Engineering – Professor George Z. Voyiadjis
In recognition of his contributions in Plasticity and Damage Modelling of Material Behaviour, including the bridging of length scales. He presently is the Boyd Chair Professor, the Bingham C. Stewart Distinguished Chair Professor, and the Holder of the Freeport-Mac MoRan Endowed Chair in Engineering at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of Louisiana State University (LSU), Baton Rouge (LA), USA, and also the Director of Center for GeoInformatics at the same University. Professor Voyiadjis is Foreign Member of different scientific Academies in Europe and Asia, and was the recipient of several prestigious awards: Nadai Medal from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Doctorate hc from Poznan University of Technology, Poland, Distinguished Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Khan International Medal for outstanding life-long contribution to the field of Plasticity, Nathan M. Newmark Medal from ASCE, Most Cited Author 2005-2008 of the International Journal of Solids and Structures, Elsevier (Gradient Plasticity Theory with a Variable Length Scale Parameter).
Blaise Pascal Medallist in Physics – Professor Riccardo Betti
In recognition for his outstanding contributions to high temperature plasma physics with applications to nuclear fusion and for the development of the novel “shock ignition” approach to direct-drive inertial confinement fusion. One of the most prominent figures on the international scene of inertial fusion, he is the Robert L. McCrory Professor, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Rochester, and Chief Scientist of the UR Laboratory for Laser Energetics. He received the Edward Teller Medal from the American Nuclear Society and the E.O.Lawrence Award from the US Department of Energy. He co-authored over 200 peer reviewed papers. He received his PhD in Nuclear Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1992.
Blaise Pascal Medallist in Materials Scince – Professor George Malliaras
In recognition for his contributions as a pioneer in science and technology of organic electronic materials. He is widely considered a founding father of organic bioelectronics, a field that applies organic electronic materials to biology and medicine. Professor Malliaras is one of the world’s foremost researchers in the field of soft electronic devices, who has made major contributions to our understanding of organic electronic and bioelectronic devices. He has made significant impacts in a number of areas including: understanding charge injection at metalorganic interfaces; patterning of organic electronic materials; understanding mixed conduction in organic electronic materials; development of mixed semiconductor devices; and the use of organic devices as brain interfaces.
Blaise Pascal Medallist in Mathematics – Professor Athanassios S. Fokas
In recognition for his exceptional contributions in the field that have solved a number of important problems but have also contributed to a number of important translational fields including engineering and medicine. DR. Fokas has made seminal contributions to the solution of a large class of nonlinear partial differential equations, occurring in a wide range of interdisciplinary applications, from two-phase flow in porous media to nonlinear optics.
The impact of Dr. Fokas’ work in various fields has been phenomenal. He introduced the so-called inverse spectral method which has led to the solution of several physically important equations arising in water waves, in plasma physics and in nonlinear optics. Regarding the transformative Fokas method, the citation in his Aristeion prize noted that this is “the most important development in the solution of partial differential equations since Fourier, Laplace and Cauchy”.
Blaise Pascal Medallist in Medicine and Life Sciences – Professor Patrick Couvreur
In recognition for his widely recognized work as a seminal scientist in the field of nanotechnologies for drug delivery and imaging sciences. Prof. Couvreur has been pioneering the field of biomaterials for nanomedicines. He has introduced for the first time the design of polyacrylamide nanoparticles and nanocapsules for the intracellular delivery of compounds which cannot diffuse into cells. The exceptional inventive contribution of Pr. Couvreur is further demonstrated by the introduction of squalene grafting to drugs, which leads to self-forming biodegradable nanoparticles able to deliver a high amount of drugs to various tissues. At the international level, his a Foreign Member of the National Academy of Medicine (USA), Foreign Member of the National Academy of Engineering (USA), Foreign Member of the Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium (Belgium), Foreign Member of the Spanish Academy of Pharmacy (Spain), International fellow of the Japanese Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology (Japan). He has held several ERC grants and been member of the ERC Board.
