Considerans Gouden medaille 2017
The committee was privileged to consider a number of remarkable young chemists. Although the choice was a difficult one, the committee was unanimous in selecting the candidate.
The 2017 KNCV Golden Medal is awarded to Nathalie Katsonis.
Please allow me to mention a few considerations of the Committee.
‘We consider Nathalie an excellent chemist with a distinctive own face in very challenging research. She is a leading researcher in the field of molecular machines, motors and switches and she already has achieved impressive results in integrating such molecular machines into larger, more complex systems. While designing the molecular machines she draws inspiration in concepts from nature, such as growth and cellular division.
Her recent research considers photo-sensitive molecular switches that, when embedded in liquid crystals and illuminated, slowly but surely bringing so much tension into the system that the whole thing eventually bursts.
The analogy with the bursting open process of seed beads is striking but not coincidental: it is on such natural processes that Nathalie bases her work, which is published without exception in top journals.
Nathalie is also a very committed scientist who actively contributes to the development of scientific research in the Netherlands. She performs these activities within the Young Academy of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts & Sciences.
With Nathalie we believe we have identified a bright beacon for chemistry. For now and for the future.
Dear Nathalie, I consider it an honour and a pleasure to present to you the KNCV Gold Medal.
Herman Overkleeft, chair
KNCV Gold Medal 2017 Committee
