Beatriz Roldán

Beatriz Roldán is one of the most engaged and committed scientists in the search for technical solutions to hasten the energy transition. Her work on catalytic nanomaterials has had a major impact on improving the efficiency of processes like green hydrogen production and the conversion of CO₂ into products of industrial interest. After studying at the University of Oviedo, she obtained a PhD at the University of Duisburg-Essen, and conducted research in various institutions of Germany and the United States. Since 2017, she has headed the Department of Interface Science at the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society in Berlin, and is the first women director of this century-old institution. One of the most frequently cited researchers in her field, she advises numerous institutions and governments around the world, and has received prestigious research awards including the British Faraday Medal of the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Paul H. Emmett Award from the North American Catalysis Society for Fundamental Catalysis, and the Margarita Salas Award. As well as research work, Beatriz Roldán has also actively contributed to mentoring programmes for young scientists, especially women, in a field that has traditionally been dominated by men.