Ina Vollmer and Matteo Monai, ICC’s new assistant professors (see May 1 news item) have prepared a video explaining the tools and techniques available at the Utrecht ARC-CBBC hub. The ARC CBBC infrastructure is available for everyone affiliated with ARC-CBBC, including ARC-CBBC researchers who work at other universities. The video can be found here: https://youtu.be/KT6XAGG-fTk Source: website Inorganic Chemistry
Da Vinci Project 2020-2021 Reunion at Strand Oog in Al
To festively celebrate the end of the Da Vinci Project 2020-2021 program, a Comenius Teaching Fellow project conceptualized and lead by Prof. Weckhuysen, a physical reunion was organized for the students and the external partners at Strand Oog in Al (Utrecht). This year marked the second edition of the interdisciplinary honours program, in which groups
In Situ Nano-Spectroscopy on Surface-Anchored Metal-Organic Frameworks
PhD defense of Guusje Delen “A new view on nanomaterials in action.” Small materials, large effects: because of their size, nanomaterials usually behave differently than their larger counterparts. For example, they are often better at absorbing and converting gasses, such as CO2 or poison gases. But why? To answer this we need new microscopes to
The Birth, Life and Death of Surface-Mounted Metal-Organic Frameworks
PhD defense of Laurence Mandemaker In this Ph.D. Thesis, thin layers of solid catalysts were studied using advanced microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. These catalysts, better known as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), consist of metal clusters which are interconnected with linker molecules, building a 3D porous crystalline structure with many potential applications. The thesis focusses on the
Comenius Senior Fellowship for Bert Weckhuysen
After having received a Comenius Teaching Fellowship to launch the Da Vinci Project for BA students in 2019, Bert Weckhuysen now also received a Comenius Senior Fellowship to expand it for MA students in the frame of the Utrecht University, Technical University of Eindhoven and Wageningen University and EWUU Strategic Alliance! Sustainable development and the
And then there was light: the sun powers new chemistry
In an article that appeared in de Telegraaf today, ICC researchers Eline Hutter, Matteo Monai, and Bert Weckhuysen are interviewed about the conversion of CO2 to methane using sunlight. Although the conversion of CO2 to methane (the Sabatier reaction) has been known since the early 1900’s, it has gained quite some attention recently as one of the solutions to
Where has all the plastic gone? Ina Vollmer & Florian Meirer interviewed about plastic in the environment
Ina Vollmer and Florian Meirer have been interviewed for an in-depth article about plastic in the environment: 99 percent of all the plastics in the ocean is missing. We know it went in, but we have no clue where it’s headed. One thing is certain though: plastic is never really gone. The question is: where did it go?
Clothing kills the virus
The Covid-pandemic has demonstrated that we need to be ready for rapidly spreading threats, like a new biohazard, but also pollutants, or toxins. This is especially important for the front-line workers exposed to the threat, like doctors and nurses, and other first responders. In a paper published in Nature Reviews Chemistry, ICC researchers review the
Bert Weckhuysen explains smell of asphalt processing plant on Radio 1
Neighbors of an Asphalt-processing plant in den Bosch are concerned about the smell emanating from the plant, and fear for exposure to benzene. Bert Weckhuysen was interviewed to explain how chemical plants can safely operate in the vicinity of built-up areas. The interview (in Dutch) can be found at https://www.nporadio1.nl/blok-toine/uitzendingen/3572079-2021-05-05. The interview is in the second
Matteo Monai and Ina Vollmer appointed assistant professors at ICC and ARC CBBC
The ICC scientific staff was recently expanded with two new tenure-track assistant professors: Ina Vollmer and Matteo Monai, presently post-docs at ICC, will join the team of ICC and ARC CBBC (https://arc-cbbc.nl). Ina will work on the selective low temperature conversion of plastic waste, while Matteo will attempt to push the boundaries of rational catalysts
Bert Weckhuysen speaks out on research funding
In an interview in DUB, the news site of Utrecht University, Bert Weckhuysen speaks out on the funding system for academic research. What is needed, is a sustainable model for education and science. One of the conditions is fair funding, another is a fair personnel policy. Weckhuysen notes that many of his colleagues structurally work extreme
Reinventing Chemistry Together: Successful anniversary symposium of ARC-CBBC
In ARC-CBBC, industry, academia and government cooperate to redesign the chemical industry, and drastically reduce its environmental footprint. Led by Bert Weckhuysen (UU-ICC), Hans Kuipers (Eindhoven University of Technology) and Nobel-Prize winner Ben Feringa (Groningen University), the consortium celebrated its fifth anniversary on April 22, 2021. Distinguished guests Mona Keijzer, State Secretary for Economic Affairs