The 2012 AkzoNobel Science Award in the Netherlands goes to Professor Detlef Lohse of the MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology of the University of Twente, in recognition of his groundbreaking research in the field of fluid dynamics.
Internationally renowned for his work in areas such as turbulence and multiphase flow, micro and nanofluidics, biomedical fluid dynamics and granular matter, Professor Lohse will officially receive his award at a ceremony being staged in Haarlem in November.
An independent jury from the Royal Holland Society of Sciences and Humanities drew particular attention to his seminal work on single-bubble sonoluminescence, a peculiar phenomenon discovered in the early nineties, in which sound energy is transferred into light energy.
Described as a “brilliant, skilful and internationally renowned leader,” he has also made important contributions to material sciences, process technology and measurement techniques.
Born in Hamburg, Germany, Professor Lohse was the first scientist to ever receive both the Spinoza Prize for fundamental sciences and the Simon Stevin Master Prize for applied sciences.
Better understanding two-phase systems
His work on understanding the behaviour of two-phase systems allows for morphological control of microscopic particles, droplets and bubbles. For AkzoNobel these fundamental insights are important for better paint formulations and spray control in the application of paints. This in turn will lead to improvement in the delivery of coatings to substrates and the development of novel applicators for paints. Additionally, the fundamentals of the behavior of multiphase systems is critical for understanding and improving AkzoNobel‟s chemical conversion processes such as hydrogenations in which two-phase flow is crucial.
The AkzoNobel Science Awards are presented in recognition of outstanding scientific contributions by individuals in the fields of chemistry and materials science. First bestowed in the Netherlands in 1970, the award was extended to Sweden in 1999, alternating between the two countries each year. In order to reflect the increasingly global nature of the company, the award was established in China in 2010 and the UK in 2012, while a North American award is being introduced next year.
