Researcher Daniel Martín Jiménez (CSIC) has been honored in the latest edition of the Physics Awards, a recognition granted by the Real Sociedad Española de Física (RSEF) and the Fundación BBVA. Daniel Martín, postdoctoral researcher at the Physical Chemistry of Surfaces and Interfaces group at ICMAB, was recognized in the category of Best Article in a RSEF Journal (Premio a la Mejor Contribución de Divulgación en las Publicaciones de la Real Sociedad Española de Física).
Luis Viñas, president of the Real Sociedad Española de Física, Daniel Martín Jiménez, awardee, and Rafael Pardo, director of the BBVA Foundation | Photo by BBVA Foundation
Daniel Martín Jiménez was recognized for his article Cocineros Moleculares, published in the Revista Española de Física (Vol. 37, nº 2, 2023), "which successfully presents the fundamentals and practical applications of nanotechnology in an original, rigorous, and engaging manner" according to the jury. ç
>> Download here Daniel Martín Jiménez's acceptance speech, delivered at the awards ceremony
The award-winning article presents recent advances in nanotechnology by drawing parallels with molecular gastronomy. In the article, Daniel points out that ‘researchers in this new branch use “frying pans” or “forks” to create large molecules with great precision by coupling smaller organic compounds. What's more, a research project in Germany, led by collaborators of Martín Jiménez and whose work is the focus of his article, has set out to write a ‘recipe book’ explaining the basic principles for creating these molecules.
>> Watch here the interview on YouTube and read more about the awarded paper and the research behind it in this profile website.
In addition to bringing nanotechnology research closer to people working in other fields, the award winner considers it essential to direct the dissemination of physics to audiences with little knowledge of the subject: "I am particularly interested in children because I believe they are the most receptive, although it is a greater challenge. However, I think it is at those ages that their curiosity for knowledge needs to be nurtured the most. The important thing in popularisation is not to teach concepts. It is more important to transmit curiosity for knowledge to the public. Once they have that curiosity, they will learn the concepts on their own".
The Fundación BBVA and RSEF Physics Awards celebrate creativity, effort, and achievement in this fundamental scientific field, aiming to promote and spotlight the best Spanish researchers, with particular attention to young scientists, as well as excellence in teaching and science communication. With a total prize fund of €50,000 distributed across all categories, these awards were established by the RSEF in 1958.
>> Watch here the video that introduces all the awardees of the 2024 edition of the Physics Awards presented by the Real Sociedad Española de Física (RSEF) and the Fundación BBVA:
Licia Verde (Institut de Ciències del Cosmos (ICCUB), Universitat de Barcelona), Román Orús Lacort (Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC)), Martí Perarnau Llobet (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona), Miguel Anaya Martín (Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales, Universidad de Sevilla), Patricio Gómez Lesarri (I.E.S. Ramiro de Maeztu and Universidad Complutense de Madrid), Isabel Abril Sánchez (Universitat d‘Alacant), Francisco José Torcal Milla (Escuela de Ingeniería y Arquitectura, Universidad de Zaragoza) and Daniel Martín Jiménez (Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona, ICMAB-CSIC).
>> Read more:
Los Premios de Física celebran el valor de la ciencia más fundamental para ensanchar nuestro conocimiento del universo y dotarnos de herramientas para actuar en el mundo (Fundación BBVA, 5 Dec 2024)
The paper 'Cocineros moleculares', awarded with the Real Sociedad Española de Física (RSEF) – Fundación BBVA Physics Award (ICMAB, 1 Oct 2024)
Daniel Martín Jiménez, Premio a la Mejor Contribución de Divulgación en las Publicaciones de la Real Sociedad Española de Física (Fundación BBVA)
Un investigador del ICMAB-CSIC, premiado por la Real Sociedad Española de Física y la Fundación BBVA | Delegaciones CSIC (CSIC - Delegació Catalunya)
