In Memoriam Eric Derouane

I have fond memories of Eric organizing the meetings that preceded EFCATS, long time ago (31 years to be precise). I had just become a professor in The Netherlands and was very happy to be invited to the club of friends of Eric (some others called it a mafia, of course). Every year, Eric organized a small workshop where catalysis themes were presented by ourselves and heavily discussed. We talked a lot about science, no students were present at our meetings so that we did not shy away from making stupid remarks, and also had some fun. A young professor like me learned a lot in a short time. We also rotated the meetings between Belgium, France and The Netherlands and visited several labs there. This also saved money for meals. In this way I met many colleagues and made many friends. All this was only possible by the organization by Eric and by travel money that he had organized in Strasbourg. Then, in the course of the years, our club grew larger and larger and became too large. The only reasonable decision was to open it to everybody and thus the idea of EFCATS was born. Some of the original club of friends of Eric became president of EFCATS, Eric himself, Jacques Védrine and yours truly. Let us remember Eric as a very good scientist, a fantastic organizer and a charming person.

Regards,

Roel Prins
President EFCATS

more on the life of Eric Derouane

EuropaCat

EuropaCat VIII
26-31 August 2007, Turku Fair Centre, Finland

EuropaCat-IX:

Bid for EuroapaCat IX in Salamanca, Spain, the year 2009

Professor Robbie Burch, elected
"François Gault Lecturer 2007-9"

The European Federation of Catalysis Societies (EFCATS) has awarded the seventh François Gault Lectureship to Prof. Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, N. Ireland, (United Kingdom).

New section on catalysis meetings

A new section on the forthcoming .meetings has been added in the links section

INDUSTRIAL STUDENTSHIP

Applications are sought for a three-year studentship leading to PhD on a research programme entitled, "Catalytic routes to the synthesis of EDDS (Ethylene Diamine Disuccinate); A biodegradable alternative to EDTA."

The project will be supervised by Prof. Jim A. Anderson & Dr Richard P.K. Wells and sponsored by Innospec Speciality Chemicals

EDTA (Ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid and phosphonates) is a non-biodegradable chelant that is used extensively in domestic and industrial applications. In river systems, chelants can extract heavy toxic metals from mud and sediment and cause remobilization of the metals in the environment. EDDS (Ethylene diaminedisuccinate) is a naturally occurring chelant and is a structural isomer of EDTA, which is readily biodegradable and is completely mineralised in the environment. The project will look at improved catalytic routes using ethylene glycol and aspartic acid and glyoxal as starting materials for the synthesis of EDDS.

Note that only Home/EU fees and maintenance will be paid and that the successful applicant would need to be available to begin work on the project by July 2008.

Further details from j.anderson@abdn.ac.uk or r.wells@abdn.ac.uk or tel. (44) 1224 272905/20

Nominations for The Tanabe Prize for Acid Base Catalysis

The Tanabe Prize for Acid Base Catalysis is sponsored by the CBMM Corporation and The International Acid-Base Catalysis (ABC) Group. It is administrated by The International Acid-Base Catalysis (ABC) Group and will be awarded at ABC-6 and at all subsequent ABC conferences. Each awardee will be asked to give a plenary lecture. The award consists of a plaque and a prize of $ 2000. Up to an additional $ 1000 will be made available for otherwise non-reimbursed travel expenses.

The award is given in recognition of substantial contributions to the field of acid and/or base catalysis. It may be given either to a young person who has demonstrated real promise in the early part of his/her career, or to an individual at any stage of his/her career (subject to the age requirement below), who has made significant contributions to the area within the six years preceding the award.

Selection of the awardee will be made by a committee appointed by a vote of the board members of The ABC Group. The nominees should not have passed their 56th birthday on 10 May 2009 on which date the award will be presented at the ABC-6 conference. Nomination packages should indicate the nominee's qualifications, accomplishments, nominating letter, one optional seconding letter and a biography of the nominee. A critical evaluation of the significance of the candidate's qualifications should be made as well as a statement of the particular contribution(s) on which the nomination is based. Nomination packages for the Award must be received by 1 June 2008.

All nomination packages (one electronic copy) should be sent to Jacques Vedrine, President, The ABC Group; at <vedrine@ccr.jussieu.fr>. An email receipt message will be sent to each nominator.

EU funded Transnational Access Programme

Through the EU funded FP6 'Structuring the European Research Area' Programme the state-of-the-art facilities and expertise at CenTACat are now open for access to researchers throughout the EU and Associated States. Full funding for travel and living expenses is provided for users to access the facilities for periods ranging from 1 week to 3 months. For an application form and further details please visit our web site at:
http://www.centacat.qub.ac.uk/access/index.html

How to give successful oral and poster presentations

Follow this link for a concise treatise by Prof. Hans Niemantsverdriet on how to make the best of your presentations, get your audience interested and get your message across. 

This page has been the most visited page on the EFCATS website and has received high ratings for its superb content and practical down-to-earth approach.

ACENET ERA-NET - Europe strengthens catalysis

The European Commission ERA-NET on Applied Catalysis (ACENET) has been granted with 2.7 millions euro. The Dutch NWO coordinates this ERA-NET. On October 26th, the kick-off meeting was held in Oegstgeest (The Netherlands). ACENET aims to promote research funds (national and supra-national) in the field of applied catalysis. Ten funding organizations of nine European countries will aim at cooperating among their research programs on these topics. Further information can be found in:
http://www.acenet.net

Are you looking for a catalysis scientist ?

EFCATS offers to post your job vacancies at this web site.

Please contact the Webmaster

last update on 23.03.2006

Old news :

The 2005 Eugene J. Houdry Award in Applied Catalysis to Dr. Henrik Topsøe of the Haldor Topsøe Research Laboratories, Lyngby, Denmark.  . Read more...

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