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Oviedo, 17 January, 2008.- At noon today, a press conference was held at the Board Room of the Hotel de la Reconquista in Oviedo as one of the events around the award giving ceremony of the XVII DuPont Science Award. The awardee, Nazario Martín León, was accompanied by the award’s jury President, Professor Santiago Grisolía and DuPont’s country leader for Spain and Portugal, Mr. Enrique Macian.
Within this year’s theme of the award –dedicated to materials for energy- Professor Nazario Martín obtained the award of the XVII edition due to his notable contributions in the fields of molecular solar cells. These contributions have given way to the manufacturing of solar cells based on more effective plastic materials, as well as other interesting electro active chemical systems in the field of molecular electronics. Many articles have been written in magazines of high scientific impact, in both the chemical arena as well as the ones dedicated to materials, being right now, one of the Spanish chemist with more publications. His work is widely known within the international community and confirmed by his attendance to numerous international scientific conventions. Also, his publications have achieved important impacts within the main Spanish media outlets.
“Plastic solar cells are an alternative for the future versus clasical fotovoltaic cells based on silica,” assured professor Martín. He also added that “in this sense, the fullerenes and other carbon nano-structures represent a realistic alternative of new materials for the storage of energy. In a maximum period of 4 to 5 years, we will see some of these applications.”
Professor Santiago Grisolía, President of the Jury of the DuPont Science Award emphasized the importance of the materials for energy within the development of new and needed applications to preserve our planet. “DuPont has again recognized the scientific work of an essential practice for society. In this occasion, an expert in the field of cellular cells symbolizes the determination of many scientists to develop specific materials for the application of better and more environmental efficient energy sources that will contribute to the care of our environment.” “Our future survival depends in great manner on governments, private initiatives and scientists like Professor Martín.”
Enrique Macián, Spain’s country leader said that "big companies like DuPont, have the responsibility of going ahead of the tide. We need to continue producing more while consuming less natural resources, and today’s science offers renewable alternatives that will help us develop in a balanced way with the potentials from our planet. This is the reason why we have dedicated this year’s edition of our Award, in order to support adequate materials that can obtain these new energy sources.”
The DuPont Science Award was created in 1991 under the leadership of Nobel Prize winner Dr. Severo Ochoa with the objective of stimulating the initiatives that report an important contribution to the advance in science and their applications. DuPont Spain has been running this award for the past seventeen years, recognizing Spanish and Portuguese scientists that with their works, have contributed to the advance of science. Along these seventeen editions, the awards have gone to the following scientist: José Joaquín Barluenga (1991), Andrés Maldonado (1992), Manuel Elices (1993), Francisco José Balta (1994), Avelino Corma (1995), Pedro Miguel Etxenique (1996), Moisés Morán (1997), Carlos López-Otín (1998), Albert Grañena (1999), Juan Modolell (2000), Carlos Martínez (2001), María Carmo Fonseca (2002), Manuel García Velarde (2003), Sergio Moreno (2004) Jaume Veciana (2005) Angel Rubio (2006) and Nazario Martín León (2007)
