On April 23, Bert Weckhuysen presented his inaugural lecture as the recipient of the Francqui Chair at the University of Antwerp. The event began with a welcome address by Prof. Dr. Sabine van Doorslaer, Dean of the Faculty of Sciences, followed by Prof. Dr. Herwig Leirs, Rector of the University, who shared a brief overview of the Francqui Chair’s history and importance.

Each year, the Francqui Foundation grants chairs to Belgian universities, with institutions nominating distinguished scientists from Belgium and abroad. Recipients deliver an inaugural lecture and provide nine hours of teaching throughout the academic year for PhD students, postdocs, and academic staff. Later this year, Bert Weckhuysen will offer lectures on the concept of the “Refinery of the Future” and catalysis’s role in making this vision possible.

Prof. Dr. Bert Maes, Professor of Chemistry at the University of Antwerp and honorary promotor, initiated Weckhuysen’s nomination in light of his significant research contributions. During his introduction, Professor Maes noted in his laudatio: “…Weckhuysen’s team is performing groundbreaking research. They develop new catalysts for the refinery of the future but also do research to understand how they work in real time. This so-called operando spectroscopy is for what our laureate is best known for and where he is considered to be one of the founders. It is like going to a 3D movie and being able to actually see what is happening in your reaction flask. Bert’s favorite toys are without doubt catalysts, but besides that he is in my opinion a catalyst himself. Bert stimulates other researchers to work together to create synergies, hereby lowering the activation energy for innovations serving society. When you talk to him but also to his former PhD students and postdocs you quickly learn he is a truly inspiring mentor and educator…”

Professor Maes concluded his laudation with these words: “…Bert, your outstanding scientific achievements and inspiring personality have led to this Francqui Chair and I would like to sincerely congratulate you on behalf of the Antwerp academic community with this prestigious award. We are all looking forward to an inspiring inaugural lecture with your view on how to achieve a circular society involving catalysis as a main player.”

Following these introductions, Bert Weckhuysen delivered his inaugural lecture titled “Towards a Circular Society: Turning Dreams into Reality with Catalysis.”

You can read the official announcement of this event here, and the news on Utrecht University’s website here.