Tribute to the Memory of Professor José Luis García Fierro (1948-2020)
On February 3, Professor José Luis García Fierro died in Madrid (Spain) at the age of 71. Professor Fierro studied Chemistry at the University of Oviedo (Spain) and graduated in 1973 with an extraordinary award. In 1976 he received his PhD in Chemistry from the Complutense University of Madrid (Spain). Subsequently, he expanded his research experience by working in the prestigious laboratories of the Pierre et Marie Curie University (Paris, France), Cork University College (Ireland) and the Catholic University of Leuven (Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium). From 1974 until the end of his life he worked at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), where he developed his passion for scientific research.
Professor Fierro has been an internationally renowned scientist in various fields of heterogeneous catalysis and solid-state chemistry applied to: natural gas conversion, selective oxidation of paraffins and olefins, synthetic fuels, environmental catalysis, catalytic combustion, removal of heteroatoms and dearomatization of petroleum fractions, fuel cells and hydrogen production. He was a reference in the application of the XPS technique to the characterization of catalytic surfaces and was a pioneer in Spain in the development of catalytic technologies in C1 chemistry and in the set of reactions around methane that allowed the synthesis of various chemicals and fuels from natural gas. He was the promoter and leader of the Chemistry and Sustainable Energy Group of the Institute of Catalysis and Petrochemistry (CSIC), which has become a research group with recognized national and international prestige in the areas of heterogeneous catalysis and chemistry of materials and where a large number of national and foreign students have carried out their doctoral work.
Professor Fierro's research career, both fundamental and applied, is reflected in more than 1200 articles in international journals, 10 books (editor and/or co-author) and 37 patents. He was invited to more than 200 plenary lectures, seminars and lectures at specialized symposia, in refining and petrochemical companies and in public and private organizations around the world. His work was recognized with several awards: Award for the production of hydrogen from renewable energies (2004), Research Award of the Ibero-American Federation of Catalysis Societies (FISOCAT) (2008), University Medal King Saud, Saudi Arabia (2008), "Miguel Catalán" Research Award from the Autonomous Community of Madrid (2008), Honorary Doctorate from the University of Patras, Greece (2009), Honorary Doctorate from the University of Concepción, Chile (2014) and Honorary Doctorate from the University of San Marcos, Peru (2017).
During his scientific career, Prof. Fierro supervised and inspired more than 100 doctoral students, postgraduate students and postdocs from all over the world (USA, Saudi Arabia and especially Latin American countries such as Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, Brazil and Colombia, with whom he always maintained a special bond). Among its former students and doctors, there are many scientists who today hold key positions in universities, industries and different national and international organizations. All of them remember his brilliant scientific ability, his meticulousness and patience in the laboratory and his willingness to help. Along with his scientific achievements, Professor Fierro was known for his ability to build and lead successful work teams and create a family atmosphere among researchers. Professor Fierro was one of those rare beings to find who combined an exceptionally effective and dedicated scientist with a good and cheerful person and always with time to listen and help others. His human quality was exceptional, valuing the work of everyone, from the most important to the most humble, which earned him the respect of all of us who were very lucky enough to know him and work by his side.
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