Brussels hosts IUMRS Awards
Organised by the International Union of Materials Research Societies (IUMRS), the Second Global Leadership and Service Awards were held in Brussels, Belgium, yesterday (17 November) at the European Parliament.
The ceremony honoured those dedicated to the development of the international community and co-operation in the field of advanced materials for energy and transportation.
This year three awards were given by MEPs. Paul Rübig, chair of the STOA (Science and Technology Options Assessment) panel, granted the first to the Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Professor Wan Gang, who established the New Energy Automobile Engineering Centre and participated in the promotion of science and technology between China and the rest of the world.
José Inácio Faria then presented the award to Professor Graça Carvalho, a former minister of science in Portugal, as well as a former employee at the European Commission. From 2009 to 2014, Carvalho was also an MEP and co-president of the Industry, Research and Energy Committee (ITRE) at the European Parliament. She contributed to the promotion of research throughout her academic and political career.
Carlos Zorrinho awarded the third to Professor Sukekatsu Ushioda, former president of the National Institute of Materials Science (NIMS) and head of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) of Japan. Ushioda moved to and studied in the US, where he taught at the University of California (Irvine) between 1969 and 1985, before returning to Japan and teaching at the Tohoku University from 1985 to 2004.
Rodrigo Martins, chair of the IUMRS Awards Committee, closed the ceremony, saying: “It is a great honour to have all these distinguished guests here”, and adding that he was happy that the awards were supported by the main political groups from the European Parliament.
