Belén Martín-Matute from Mistra SafeChem member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences

The Mistra SafeChem scientist Belén Martin-Matute, a professor at Stockholm University, is elected new member of the Class for Chemistry of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

Belén Martín-Matute is a professor at the Department of organic chemistry at Stockholm University. She is also the leader for the Mistra SafeChem work package Design and management of chemicals, materials and processes.

The focus of Belén Martín-Matute's research is creating bonds between atoms which are used in the production of pharmaceutical substances and agricultural chemicals. She started by mostly using metal catalysis but now works also with organocatalysts. Her research group is working, among other things, on developing a catalytic material which can help produce valuable chemicals from water or carbon dioxide without the formation of dangerous gases. Read more about their work.

Propose Nobel prize winners

The work in the Class for Chemistry includes proposing chemistry Nobel prize winners. Other tasks are to be active in working groups and committees that handle scholarships, prizes and rewards.

– I feel truly honoured to have been elected as a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. I look forward to working with the Class for Chemistry supporting outstanding innovation and research, as well as emphasizing the key role of chemistry in the development of a sustainable society, Belén Martín-Matute comments on the assignment.