I’m proud of how much we’ve understood about some of the fundamental concepts in catalysis like structure sensitivity and insensitivity, and details on the CO2 reduction reaction.’
The 2023 Beilby Medal and Prize has been awarded to Dr Charlotte Vogt for her work in the field of catalysis.
In March of 2021, Charlotte started her own research group at the Technion Institute for Technology. Her laboratory focuses on the fundamental understanding of the catalytic processes that will ‘fuel the future’, such as carbon dioxide valorisation, fuel cell technology, nitrogen fixation and utilisation, hydrogen production, and the recycling of plastics and other waste.
Accepting the award, Dr Vogt said that she was particularly proud of her students, ‘One of the best parts about being in academic research is that you meet so many fresh, ambitious, talented young people, and it’s such a great feeling to see, or maybe even help them succeed at their goals.’
Dr Vogt is also proud of her research in spectroscopy of catalysis, more specifically a field called operando spectroscopy, where catalysts are studied while they are at work. ‘Spectroscopy is a lot of physics, physical chemistry. By combining knowledge, tools and insights from all of these different fields, most often through collaboration with specialists and co-workers, I’m proud of how much we’ve understood about some of the fundamental concepts in catalysis like structure sensitivity and insensitivity, and details on the CO2 reduction reaction’, she said.
Commenting on new developments Dr Vogt said ‘I think most scientists are excited to just keep learning. It often surprises me how much we depend on catalytic reactions but how little we know about them. In my group we study catalytic reactions that can help us to abate climate change and/or transition away from fossil resource dependency. All the efforts to fundamentally understand catalytic reactions stem from how to make improvements to existing processes or design new chemical processes that have a real impact on society’.
The Beilby Medal and Prize is jointly awarded and administered in rotation by SCI, RSC and IOM3, annually recognising a scientist or engineer whose work is of exceptional practical significance in chemical engineering, applied science, energy efficiency or a related field. The 2023 award was administered by SCI.
Dr Vogt will be presented with her medal, certificate and £1,000 prize at the Catalysis for a Sustainable Future event on 13 July at SCI HQ in London, where she will also give a talk.
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