Nanqiang Lectureship Award for Beatriz Roldan Cuenya
On June 5, Prof. Dr. Beatriz Roldan Cuenya, Director of the Interface Science Department of the Fritz Haber Institute, delivered the prestigious Nanqiang Lecture at Xiamen University in China. This distinguished Named Lectureship is awarded to leading scientists worldwide to promote cutting-edge research and interdisciplinary exchange.
The prestigious Nanqiang lectureship is the highest-level academic lecture series at Xiamen University and is hosted by its College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. The lectureship is awarded to internationally recognized scientists from various fields to advance cutting-edge research and foster the scientific exchange with students and faculty of Xiamen University.
In 2026, Prof. Dr. Beatriz Roldan Cuenya, Director of the Interface Science Department of the Fritz Haber Institute had the honor to give the Nanqiang Lecture. She talked about “Unlocking Electrocatalyst Performance via Structural Dynamics”, giving insights into her pioneering research in the field of operando characterization of catalysts for applications in renewable energy technology.
Xiamen University invites the Nanqiang Lecturers to spend several days on campus thus fostering the lively scientific exchange with university members. Former distinguished speakers include internationally recognized experts from diverse disciplines who have significantly advanced their fields. In 2005 for instance, the lecture honored the renowned theoretical chemist Prof. Henry F. Schaefer III, one of the most highly cited chemists in the world, who made groundbreaking contributions to molecular quantum mechanics. In 2013, the named lectureship went to Prof. Michael Grätzel, a renowned photovoltaic chemist from EPFL, known for inventing dye-sensitized solar cells. In 2014 and 2016 the Nanqiang Lecture was given by Prof. Konstantin Novoselov, Nobel Laureate in Physics (2010), who shared insights into his research on graphene applications and materials science.
Being invited as a Nanqiang Lecturer is considered a major international academic milestone. We are delighted that our director, Beatriz Roldan Cuenya, has joined the ranks of the Nanqiang Lecturers. This distinction is a great recognition of her outstanding scientific achievements and an honor for the entire institute.
