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On March 20, at the American Chemical Society (ACS) meeting in New Orleans, Professor Orlando Rojas from Aalto School of Chemical Engineering, was announced as the 2018 recipient of the Anselme Payen Award. The award, established in 1962, is given annually by the ACS's Cellulose and Renewable Materials Division for outstanding contributions to the science and technology of cellulose and related materials. Professor Rojas will be presented with the award at the 2019 ACS Spring meeting to be held in Orlando, Florida. In such occasion, a symposium and banquet will be organized in his honor. This is the second time in 57 years that an individual affiliated with Finnish research institutions receives the award, in an area that is of highest importance to the country.

Rojas has led research in the field of surfaces and colloids for more than 20 years, after receiving his PhD from Auburn University and following his affiliations with Universidad de Los Andes (Venezuela), KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Sweden) and North Carolina State University (USA), before joining Aalto University.

“I am fascinated with plant-based polymers, their structuring and functions as well as the many prospects for their utilization in the future bioeconomy.”

Professor Rojas is interested in supporting global sustainable development through research on the fundamental and applied aspects of renewable resources. The core activities of his group involve biobased materials of different size scales, mainly those displaying large interfacial area such as fibers (micro/nano fibers), fiber networks, particles and colloidal systems.

“Our group uses surface science, engineering, and nanotechnologies in multidisciplinary approaches to understand the fundamental principles involved in design, manufacture and performance of next generation materials. I am fortunate to be surrounded by outstanding colleagues and students. The contributions of my group members are main reasons for this award. I am grateful to all of them, past and present.”

Further information:
Professor Orlando Rojas
Aalto University
orlando.rojas@aalto.fi
tel. +358 50 5124 227