Armando Pombeiro, professor at DEQ and researcher at CQE has been awarded the “Prix Franco-Portugais” by the French Chemical Society, for his “eminent works in the development of innovative catalysts(…)for industrial processes issues” and of “the strong links that he established with the French chemists”. The award ceremony took place on 16th May, at the Maison de La Chimie, Paris. The Técnico professor is the first Portuguese citizen awarded the “Prix Franco-Portugais”. “I feel very honoured, not only personally, but also on behalf of my research group. This distinction would not have been possible without my colleagues”, says professor Armando Pombeiro.
The Técnico professor was nominated/proposed for this award by the Division of Coordination Chemistry, with the support of the Catalysis Division of the French Chemical Society. This is a bi-national award (French-Portuguese). The French Chemical Society rewards a Portuguese citizen and the Portuguese Society of Chemistry rewards a French citizen. The awarded selection process is independent.
Professor Armando Pombeiro taugh 14 years at the École Polytechnique (Paris); participated in two EU collaborative projects (EC Networks) involving Técnico and the Universities of Rennes, Toulouse and Dijon; participated in a bilateral project with the École Normale Superieure de Paris; co-edited a book with a French author and participated in international commission with French colleagues, etc.
According to the professor, the success of his career “is the result of the quality and originality of our work. Outlining is also very important”. “Our research is focused on a large number of elements of the periodic table, including the so-called representative, the transition metals and lanthanides, which covers almost all the periodic groups. We like to explore the periodic table of elements instead of limiting our research to a small number of elements, because it will allow us to compare and systematize properties and reactivity, and to have a wider vision, which is not common in other research groups”, he concluded.
