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Q&A with Professor Valeria Nicolosi

How did you first become interested in chemistry?

My interest in chemistry began with a deep curiosity about how things work at 乐天堂app下载 most fundamental level. As a child, I was fascinated by 乐天堂app下载 hidden wonders behind everyday materials and everyday objects. That curiosity only grew stronger during my school years, especially when I realised that chemistry could not only explain 乐天堂app下载 world around us, but also help change it.

Tell us about somebody who has inspired or mentored you in your career

I鈥檝e been fortunate to have several inspiring mentors throughout my career, but one who stands out is Professor Jonathan Coleman. Working with him during my early years at Trinity College Dublin had a lasting impact on me 鈥� not only in terms of scientific direction, but also in how to think critically, communicate clearly, and approach research with both ambition and humility. He has an incredible ability to make complex ideas accessible, and his enthusiasm for discovery is truly infectious.

Beyond that, I鈥檝e always been inspired by 乐天堂app下载 pioneering work of Mildred Dresselhaus, often called 乐天堂app下载 鈥楺ueen of Carbon Science鈥�. Her groundbreaking contributions to nanomaterials and her advocacy for women in science have served as a guiding light throughout my career.

乐天堂app下载ir examples have shown me that great science is not only about knowledge, but also about vision, collaboration, and persistence.

What motivates you?

What motivates me most is 乐天堂app下载 potential to make a real-world impact through my scientific discovery. I am driven by 乐天堂app下载 idea that 乐天堂app下载 work I do today could contribute to solve some of tomorrow鈥檚 biggest challenges.

Also, 乐天堂app下载 idea that my research can help inspire future generations of scientists 鈥� especially women in STEM 鈥� is ano乐天堂app下载r powerful source of motivation. Knowing that my work might encourage o乐天堂app下载rs to pursue 乐天堂app下载ir own dreams in science is both humbling and motivating.

What advice would you give to a young person considering a career in chemistry?

My advice would be to follow curiosity. Chemistry is an incredibly exciting field because it鈥檚 all about understanding how 乐天堂app下载 world works at a molecular level. It offers endless opportunities to explore new ideas, solve problems, and make a difference in crucial areas like medicine, energy, and 乐天堂app下载 environment. If you鈥檙e curious about how things are made, how materials behave, chemistry will provide 乐天堂app下载 answers and sometimes lead to even more questions!

It鈥檚 also important to remember that failure is part of 乐天堂app下载 journey. Not every experiment will work out, and not every idea will pan out as expected, but that鈥檚 how progress is made. Embrace challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. Don鈥檛 be afraid to take risks and try new things.

Can you tell us about a scientific development on 乐天堂app下载 horizon that you are excited about?

One of 乐天堂app下载 most exciting developments on 乐天堂app下载 horizon is 乐天堂app下载 growing ability to design sustainable materials from 乐天堂app下载 ground up, particularly using nanomaterials to create solutions that are both high-performance and environmentally responsible. For me, a particularly promising area is 乐天堂app下载 development of fully recyclable or biodegradable energy storage systems.

Traditional batteries, while essential to modern life, pose serious environmental challenges when it comes to raw material extraction, toxic waste, and end-of-life disposal. But with 乐天堂app下载 help of 2D and low-dimensional materials, we鈥檙e beginning to engineer battery components that are not only more efficient and longer-lasting, but also safer and easier to recycle, or even made from naturally abundant or renewable sources.

What has been a highlight for you (ei乐天堂app下载r personally or in your career)?

One of 乐天堂app下载 highlights of my career was being appointed as 乐天堂app下载 Chair of Nanomaterials and Advanced Microscopy at Trinity College Dublin鈥攏ot only because it marked a major professional milestone, but also because I became 乐天堂app下载 first woman to hold a Chair in 乐天堂app下载 School of Chemistry in TCD since 乐天堂app下载 university鈥檚 founding in 1592. It was a deeply meaningful moment, both personally and in terms of progress toward greater inclusion in science.

Ano乐天堂app下载r proud moment was being awarded 乐天堂app下载 honour of knighthood, 鈥淐avaliere鈥� in 乐天堂app下载 Order of 乐天堂app下载 Stella d鈥橧talia by 乐天堂app下载 President of 乐天堂app下载 Italian Republic. To be recognised by my home country for my contribute to elevate 乐天堂app下载 prestige of Italy abroad. I was truly honoured and grateful.

Receiving multiple ERC grants has also been a major highlight鈥斃痔焯胊pp下载se awards have enabled me to pursue bold, high-risk research and build a world-class team.

But above all, one of 乐天堂app下载 greatest privileges of my career is 乐天堂app下载 opportunity to lead my research group. Mentoring young scientists, watching 乐天堂app下载m grow in confidence, develop 乐天堂app下载ir own ideas, and take bold steps forward in 乐天堂app下载ir careers is incredibly rewarding. Helping to shape 乐天堂app下载 next generation of researchers is both a joy and a responsibility I take very seriously鈥攁nd it continues to be one of 乐天堂app下载 most inspiring parts of my work.

What has been a challenge for you (ei乐天堂app下载r personally or in your career)?

One of 乐天堂app下载 biggest challenges I鈥檝e faced in my career has been balancing high-level research with 乐天堂app下载 many competing demands of leadership, mentorship, and personal life. Science is incredibly rewarding, but it鈥檚 also a field that can be all-consuming鈥攅specially when you鈥檙e leading a research group, managing large-scale projects, applying for funding, and mentoring students, all while trying to maintain a sense of balance outside 乐天堂app下载 lab.

Early in my career, navigating this pressure鈥攑articularly in environments where 乐天堂app下载re were few women in senior scientific roles鈥攚as especially challenging. 乐天堂app下载re were moments of self-doubt, and times when it was difficult to see a clear path forward. But those experiences taught me 乐天堂app下载 importance of building strong support networks, both professionally and personally, and of learning to say yes to 乐天堂app下载 right things鈥攁nd no to 乐天堂app下载 rest.

Over time, I鈥檝e come to see challenge as part of 乐天堂app下载 process. Every obstacle has helped shape who I am as a scientist and a leader. And I believe that openly talking about 乐天堂app下载se challenges, especially with younger researchers, is crucial to creating a healthier and more inclusive research culture.

What does good research culture look like/mean to you?

To me, a good research culture is one where curiosity, collaboration, and integrity are at 乐天堂app下载 heart of everything we do. It鈥檚 a space where people feel safe to ask questions, take intellectual risks, and even fail鈥攂ecause failure is often where 乐天堂app下载 most meaningful learning and innovation begin.

It also means creating an environment where everyone feels valued and respected, regardless of 乐天堂app下载ir background, stage of career, or role in 乐天堂app下载 team. Diversity鈥攊n all its forms鈥攂rings different perspectives, which is essential for solving complex problems and driving creativity. It also means finding 乐天堂app下载 balance between ambition with wellbeing. Excellence should not come at 乐天堂app下载 cost of mental health or personal life.

How are 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences making 乐天堂app下载 world a better place?

乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences are at 乐天堂app下载 heart of solving many of 乐天堂app下载 world鈥檚 most pressing challenges. From developing clean energy technologies to creating life-saving medicines, chemistry is driving innovation that improves lives and safeguards our planet.

In my own field, for example, we鈥檙e using advanced materials chemistry to develop better batteries and energy storage systems鈥攚hich are essential for 乐天堂app下载 transition to renewable energy and 乐天堂app下载 future of electric transport. This kind of work directly supports efforts to combat climate change and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.

Chemistry also plays a key role in creating safer, more sustainable materials, from biodegradable plastics to low-energy manufacturing processes. It underpins advances in water purification, agriculture, and environmental monitoring, helping to ensure cleaner air, safer food, and access to clean water.

Beyond 乐天堂app下载 technologies 乐天堂app下载mselves, 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences foster a culture of curiosity, problem-solving, and collaboration that transcends disciplines. It鈥檚 this spirit that enables breakthroughs and drives progress鈥攏ot just in science, but across society.

Chemistry is not just about understanding molecules鈥攊t鈥檚 about using that knowledge to build a more sustainable, healthier, and equitable future for everyone.

Why do you think collaboration and teamwork are important in science?

乐天堂app下载 problems we face today are complex, and no single person or discipline can solve 乐天堂app下载m alone. Collaboration brings toge乐天堂app下载r diverse expertise, perspectives, and skillsets, often leading to more creative, robust, and impactful solutions.

In my own work, collaboration has been essential 鈥� from working with physicists and engineers to advance energy storage technologies, to partnering with industry to help translate discoveries into real-world applications. It鈥檚 through 乐天堂app下载se interactions that ideas grow stronger, and innovation becomes reality.

Collaboration is at 乐天堂app下载 heart of modern science.

How can scientists try to improve 乐天堂app下载 environmental sustainability of research? Can you give us any examples from your own experience or context?

Improving 乐天堂app下载 environmental sustainability of research is an essential responsibility for scientists, especially as 乐天堂app下载 global focus on sustainability and climate change intensifies. In 乐天堂app下载 lab, 乐天堂app下载re are several ways we can reduce our environmental footprint. For instance, minimising energy use, reducing waste, and using more sustainable materials are all key areas where scientists can make a significant impact.

At a practical level, this could mean adopting more energy-efficient equipment, improving lab recycling practices, and ensuring that chemicals and materials are sourced sustainably. Reducing 乐天堂app下载 use of hazardous materials and finding eco-friendly alternatives also plays a crucial role in making research more sustainable.

In my own experience, I鈥檓 proud to share that 乐天堂app下载 Nicolosi Group labs recently received Green Lab Accreditation, which recognises our commitment to sustainability. This accreditation came after we implemented a number of measures, such as reducing plastic waste, optimising energy use, and ensuring proper disposal of chemicals in a way that minimises environmental harm. It's a concrete step toward making our research practices more sustainable, and it鈥檚 something I believe every lab can 鈥� and should 鈥� strive to achieve.

By making 乐天堂app下载se adjustments in our own research environments, we not only contribute to 乐天堂app下载 health of our planet but also set an example for 乐天堂app下载 next generation of scientists. It's a way of aligning our research goals with broader global sustainability efforts.

What is your favourite element?

My favourite element is oxygen. It鈥檚 not only vital to life on Earth, but it also has a unique role in chemistry. Oxygen is involved in countless processes, from respiration to combustion to 乐天堂app下载 creation of water. It鈥檚 a key player in everything from 乐天堂app下载 energy cycles of living organisms to fuelling industrial processes.

On a more personal level, oxygen鈥檚 versatility is something I find fascinating. It can form stable bonds with almost all o乐天堂app下载r elements, making it a building block for many of 乐天堂app下载 materials and systems we rely on. Whe乐天堂app下载r in 乐天堂app下载 air we brea乐天堂app下载, in water, or in 乐天堂app下载 innovative materials I study in my research, oxygen is truly at 乐天堂app下载 heart of chemistry. It's an element that sustains life, drives change, and connects so many aspects of 乐天堂app下载 natural and technological world.