Antonio Feltrinelli Prize for Physics, Chemistry and Applications for 2021 was unanimously awarded to Prof. Silvia Bordiga, Professor of Physical Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry, University of Turin. The award is part of the several Feltrinelli Prizes that every year the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei assigns to researchers in the Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences.
Prof. Bordiga’s studies are aimed at understanding the chemical-physical nature of nanostructured materials of interest for catalysis and selective adsorption. The impact of these researches on the international community is witnessed by about 450 publications and more than 38000 citations. On new developments in heterogeneous catalysis combined with enzymatic catalysis, he received an ERC Synergy Grant in 2019 in collaboration with the University of Oslo. She is currently an editor for the most prestigious journal of the American Chemical Society dedicated to catalysis: ACS Catalysis.
His research has spanned the vast and varied world of catalysis where his excellent chemical-physical characterization skills have allowed to explain complex mechanisms, validate innovative processes and introduce additional functionalities for catalytic processes in new generation materials such as MOFs (metal organic frameworks): among these, a nanomaterial capable of combining catalytic potential with the chemical and structural stability of zeolites. This result has opened a new field of research and applications in heterogeneous catalysis, receiving high attention from the academic and industrial world.
Silvia Bordiga has contributed substantially to the development of a wide range of innovative physicochemical methodologies to address issues of high impact to society, concerning the development of sustainable processes, such as the conversion of methanol to olefins to replace the use of fossil fuels as feedstock, the treatment of various types of waste (plastics, biomass) and the reduction of air pollutants.
The 2021 edition of the Antonio Feltrinelli Prizes saw the assignment of an International Prize for Geosciences, which went to professor Frederik Johan Hilgen, four Prizes reserved to Italian citizens (one for Mathematics, Mechanics and Applications; one for Astronomy, Geodesy, Geophysics and Applications; one for Physics, Chemistry and Applications; one for Biological Sciences and Applications), five “Antonio Feltrinelli Giovani” Prizes, reserved for Italian citizens under 40 years of age on October 31, 2020 (for Mathematics, Astronomy, Biology, Physics, Virology), and an “Antonio Feltrinelli” Prize for an exceptional achievement of high moral and humanitarian value.
“The Feltrinelli Prizes awarded this year confirm our commitment to support scientific culture and to encourage research in our country – said Giorgio Parisi, president of the Accademia dei Lincei – This historical moment is showing us how important these priorities are for a fair, sustainable and forward-looking development, and the Academy is constantly at the forefront in identifying and supporting the right ways and people to do so.”
