Anniversary Lecture

From basic knowledge to industrial applications

Prof. Avelino Corma

Avelino Corma (Moncofar, Castellón, Spain 1951) is Professor at the Institute of Chemical Technology (ITQ-CSIC-Polytechnical University of Valencia).  He has worked on fundamental aspects of acid-base and redox catalysis with the aim of understanding the nature of the active sites and reaction mechanisms. He is an internationally recognized expert in solid acid and bifunctional catalysts for oil refining, petrochemistry and chemical process, especially in the synthesis and application of zeolite catalysts. He has published more than 900 research papers, and is inventor of more than 100 patents. Over 12 of these patents have been industrially applied.  Among many other honors and distinctions, he has received the Prince of Asturias Award for Technical & Scientific Research (2014), Grande Medaille de l´Académie des sciences (France), (2011), the Scientific Merit of Generalitat Valenciana (2011), the Royal Society of Chemistry Centenary Prize (2010),  the A. V. Humboldt - J. C. Mutis Research Award (2009), the Gabor A. Somorjai Award for Creative Research in Catalysis (2008), the National Award on Science and Technology of México (2006), the Paul Sabatier of the French Society of Chemistry (2006),  the Gold Medal of the Royal Society of Chemistry of Spain (2005),   the Order of Merit Civil of Spain (2002), the F. Gault European Award on "Catalysis" (2001),  the King Jaime I Award on "New Technologies" (Spain) (2000), the Iberdrola Science and Technology (Spain) (1998), the F. Ciapetta award of the North American Catalyst Society (1998), the National Award "Leonardo Torres Quevedo" (Spain) (1995), .....  Professor Corma has also been conferred with over 12 Honoris Causa recognitions, including Universidad de Cantabria (2016),  Bucharest (2014), Delft University of Technology (2013), Ottawa (2012), Alicante (2010), Bochum (2010), Valencia (2009), Jaime I (2008), Technische Universität München (2008), UNED (2008), Utrecht University (2006). He is a foreign Member of the Royal Society (UK), the National Academy of Engineering (USA), the President´s International Advisory Council of King Abdullah University of Science KAUST, the Royal Academy of Exact, Physics and Natural Sciences of Spain, among many others. He is also member of the SAB of CIC bioGUNE.