Evening lecture by Prof. Ben Feringa organized by the Rotterdamsche Chemische Kring.

The art of building small

Summary
Molecular design and chemical synthesis form the basis for many of our everyday products, ranging from plastic materials and medicines to the displays on our smartphones. Inspired by nature, our research focuses on movement at the nanoscale. In this lecture, this will be illustrated using recent developments such as smart medicines, responsive soft materials and molecular machines. Among other things, this has resulted in the discovery of a molecular motor measuring 1 billionth of a metre. You will be taken on my personal journey of discovery deep into the nano world, and I will share some remarkable experiences following “The Magic Call from Stockholm”.

Finally, I will outline how this seemingly science fiction-like art of building small can bring about fascinating future innovations.

Information about the speaker:
Ben L. Feringa studied chemistry at the University of Groningen and obtained his doctorate under the mentorship of Prof. Dr. Hans Wynberg. After a period of research at Shell in the Netherlands and England, he was appointed Professor at the University of Groningen. In 2003, he was appointed Jacobus van 't Hoff Distinguished Professor of Molecular Sciences.

He is a member and former vice-president of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and a member of the European Research Council. Feringa is also a member of the National Academy, USA, the Royal Society, London and the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina. He was recently elected a member of the American Philosophical Society. In 2016, he received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (together with Jean-Pierre Sauvage and Sir Fraser Stoddart) for his discoveries in the field of molecular machines. He has been awarded the title of Commander in the Order of the Netherlands Lion. His research in chemistry focuses on synthesis and catalysis, stereochemistry, molecular nanotechnology and photopharmacology. 

BEN L. FERINGA
Jacobus van ‘t Hoff Distinguished Professor of Molecular Sciences
Academy Professor, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, Centre for Systems Chemistry
Email: b.l.feringa@rug.nl
Website: www.benferinga.com

Introductions are very welcome.

Send an email to chemischekringrotterdam@gmail.com.