Professor Bernard L. Feringa
Doctor of Science
honoris causa
Biography
Professor Bernard L. Feringa is a distinguished Dutch chemist renowned for his pioneering work on molecular machines, which earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2016 alongside two esteemed scientists. His research interests span stereochemistry, organic synthesis, asymmetric catalysis, photopharmacology, molecular switches and motors, self-assembly, and molecular nanosystems.
Professor Feringa obtained his PhD from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands under the guidance of Professor Hans Wynberg. After working as a research scientist at Shell in the Netherlands and at the Shell Biosciences Centre in the United Kingdom, he was appointed lecturer and, in 1988, full professor at the University of Groningen later being named the Jacobus H. van't Hoff Distinguished Professor of Molecular Sciences in 2004. He was elected a Foreign Honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and is member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences. In 2008, he was appointed Academy Professor and was knighted by Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands.
In recognition of his significant scientific contribution and excellence, Professor Feringa has received numerous prestigious accolades, including the Spinoza Award (2004), Humboldt Award (2012), Grand Prix Scientifique Cino del Duca (2012) and Solvay Chemistry for the Future Award (2015).
Professor Feringa holds over 1,200 publications, 30 patents and boasts an h-index of 140, demonstrating his substantial impact on the field of chemistry. In Mainland China, Professor Feringa was appointed as Honorary Professor by Sun Yat-sen University, East China University of Science and Technology, Institute of Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and South China Normal University in Guangzhou. He also leads a research team focusing on self-healing materials at East China University of Science and Technology in Shanghai. Furthermore, Professor Feringa has contributed to nurturing outstanding research talent at PolyU and supporting the growth of emerging scholars.
Citation
Professor Bernard L. Feringa’s bio humbly refers to him as a prominent Dutch scientist. However, the immensely profound impact he has made on science and society deserves more than this modest description. His trailblazing inventions are nothing short of groundbreaking, enhancing the quality of life for humankind.
Inspired by the fundamental principles of nature, his diverse interests range from research into stereochemistry to organic synthesis, asymmetric catalysis, photopharmacology, molecular switches, motors and molecular nanosystems. His passion to exploit the potential of synthetic chemistry, combined with a remarkable level of precision and meticulous attention to detail led to a Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2016, when he and two other distinguished scientists were recognised for their discovery of a revolutionary “molecular machine”.
Powered by light, yet invisible to all but the most powerful electron microscopes, these nano-scale devices hold the potential to completely transform many existing fields. They are already creating new disciplines, such as nanomedicine, where the ability to precisely distribute drugs to particular locations within the human body may eventually enable doctors to treat the most challenging conditions. Other important areas are smart and responsive systems, such as self-healing and self-cleaning materials.
An ever-increasing list of prestigious accolades bears witness to a career built on research excellence and scientific achievement. They include his current appointment as the Jacobus H. van’t Hoff Distinguished Professor of Molecular Sciences of the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, as well as Foreign Member of the US National Academy of Sciences, the Royal Society of London, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a Member of the European Research Council.
Professor Feringa also holds over 30 original patents, and is a prolific publisher, with over 1,200 papers to his name. He has been cited over 102,000 times, earning him an h-index in excess of 140, which reflects the exceptional reach and impact of his work.
In addition to membership in many chemical and scientific associations, he has received numerous civil honours, including Knight and Commander of the Order of the Netherlands Lion, and Honorary Citizen of Groningen.
This impressive resume reflects decades of dedication as both a scientist committed to extending the frontiers of knowledge, and as a teacher dedicated to developing young talent, at home and around the world.
Here in Asia, Professor Feringa holds important honorary professorships at the East China University of Science and Technology, School of Pharmaceutical Science of Sun Yat-sen University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the Institute of Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and South China Normal University in Guangzhou. He remains extremely active on the research front, leading a team at the East China University of Science and Technology in Shanghai, focusing on “sustainable polymers, recycling and self-healing materials”.
These advanced, synthetically created substances are designed to automatically detect and repair damage without any human intervention. This unique ability makes them ideal for a host of innovative applications, from automotive and aerospace applications to advanced biomedical devices that could benefit people everywhere, from China to the world at large.
In Hong Kong, Professor Feringa has played a valuable part in developing outstanding research talent at PolyU, helping to propel R&D and nurturing the potential of top-tier scholars.
Professor Feringa is not content to rest on his laurels. Under the banner of “Art of Building Small”, his eponymous research organisation – the Ben Feringa Research Group – is determined to use synthetic chemistry to create new structures and functions. He admits to sometimes feeling like a child, playing with molecules and imagining endless possibilities. The Group is presently focused on molecular nanoscience, novel motors, and self-healing materials, using the tiniest blocks of matter to create new nanomachinery, smart materials and the drugs of the future.
As a teacher, Professor Feringa believes firmly that everyone has talent, which just needs to be found and encouraged. He feels that universities should be playgrounds, and his inspirational message to the next generation of scientists is to follow your dreams, express yourself, have fun, and be eager to learn and discover!
This year he put that long-held conviction into practice, proudly delivering the first lecture to University of Groningen students in a new teaching and research building that bears his name. Described as a “jewel of the university”, the new Feringa Building is the largest structure the institution has ever constructed. It is a fitting accolade to a scientist who has made his reputation exploring some of the smallest objects in our universe.
As mentioned earlier, Professor Feringa has been a generous contributor to the development of outstanding research talent at PolyU. I am certain that this latest recognition will facilitate an even closer engagement in propelling research, encouraging student talent and nurturing top-tier scholars.
Mr Council Chairman, in recognition of his many professional achievements in life, I have the great honour of presenting Professor Bernard L. Feringa for the conferment of the degree of Doctor of Science honoris causa.
Response Speech
Chairman Dr Lam, President Professor Teng, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is an honour and great pleasure to be able to briefly speak at this ceremony on the occasion that I receive an honorary doctorate from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Let me first thank The Hong Kong Polytechnic University for the great Honour and Distinction I receive today and in particular thank the President and the Council of the University to make this possible.
As I am a Professor of Chemistry & Molecular Sciences at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, you will not be surprised that I include in my short address a bit on the “Art of Building Small”.
Synthetic chemists build molecules and materials in their laboratories, being the basic discoveries for the products in modern society, like materials for your smart phone, novel pharmaceuticals, energy carriers, alternatives for our current plastics, or in my team also molecular motors and machines. Building a sustainable society of the future, we will have to establish a scientific basis, make discoveries, and go far beyond Nature, and our Universities play a key role in this endeavour. But we also should make clear to society and the general public why science is so crucial, with innovation based on knowledge & facts.
If we ask the question “How to shape our future?”, there is not one simple answer. But let me discuss a brief perspective from my experience in education and research. We all know predicting the future is difficult so let me emphasise as a scientist “The best way to predict the Future is to invent it”.
Invest in basic science and enable our young scientists to experience the Joy of Discovery. Allow the young talents to look far Beyond our current Horizon, give them freedom to explore and acquire knowledge. That is a key message I want to convey to you today. Scientific breakthroughs, real innovation and building the sustainable society of the future start at the bottom, it needs creativity and imagination. Education, excellent basic research, and the training of young scientist, involve exposing them to international cooperation and confronting them with the frontiers of science.
For several years now I have had the pleasure to experience a strong cooperation with several scientists in your country. We have had several joined research projects for many years and the opportunity to exchange students. I have visited Hong Kong several times, I was always impressed by your high level of education and training in the chemical sciences.
I am a scientist working on molecular nanotechnology, building motors and machines 1 billionth of a meter in size. Often, I got the question why do we need these tiny machines. Are these tiny machines, molecular nanotechnology, science or science fiction? You perhaps will remember this in 20-30 years from now when we hopefully have realised self-healing materials, a scratch in your car that repairs itself, smart windows that clean themselves or perhaps in a bit more distant future tiny robots that can do precision surgery or deliver medicines in your body exactly where it is needed. From frontier research to the future innovations!
Looking at science, there are indeed great opportunities as we are all part of a joined scientific family with a common mission to make discoveries maintaining the excellent level of knowledge and quality of thought, and our most important duty is to educate and give training to our young students, the next generation will develop the technology for the future and shape our countries and industries. Remember the words of Louis Pasteur “Science knows no country, because knowledge belongs to humanity, and is the torch which illuminates the world”.
Let me finish by emphasising “Human Imagination and Creativity is Really Sustainable in this world”.
And finally, once again many thanks for the great honour given to me by your University.
