As an active scientist in the sol-gel community and follower of the ISGS actions since its creation in 2003, I present my candidature for the ISGS board. One of the reason for this candidature is to pay back the support received from the sol-gel community, which was of especial importance at the beginning of my professional career. On the other hand, I would like to contribute actively to the promotion of sol-gel science in the coming decades, since SG chemistry is at the heart of so many areas of basic scientific knowledge and extends across a vast landscape of applications. I would like to focus on the involvement of a new generation of young scientists but also on the involvement of the industrial world, spanning from big international companies to the small and medium enterprises, whose contribution to the quotidian life and social well-being is of outstanding importance. Furthermore, I think that an important task to address in the next years is to boost the J. Sol-Gel Sci. & Technol. journal and the ISGS Newsletter, as a monthly electronic newsletter (including job offers, fellowships, important contributions, events….).
As a scientist with active research in sol-gel cAs a scientist with active research in sol-gel chemistry for over two decades, I am very delighted to work together with the ISGS board members to serve the ever expanding ISGS community in an extraordinarily multidisciplinary area of research. I am particulAs a scientist with active research in sol-gel chemistry for over two decades, I am very delighted to work together with the ISGS board members to serve the ever expanding ISGS community in an extraordinarily multidisciplinary area of research. I am particularly interested to associate with the ISGS community in research areas ranging from porous materials, self-assembly chemistry, (bio)sensing to drug delivery. arly interested to associate with the ISGS community in research areas ranging from porous materials, self-assembly chemistry, (bio)sensing to drug delivery. hemistry for over two decades, I am very delighted to work together with the ISGS board members to serve the ever expanding ISGS community in an extraordinarily multidisciplinary area of research. I am particularly interested to associate with the ISGS community in research areas ranging from porous materials, self-assembly chemistry, (bio)sensing to drug delivery.
I have been working mainly in the field of Sol-Gel chemistry, and I would like to contribute to the further development of the ISGS as a board member. By making use of my experiences as a organizing committee member of several domestic and international conferences, I will make efforts to increase the visibility of the ISGS and to promote the participation of researchers from other fields to activate the Sol-Gel community. I will also try to further enhance the support of young researchers who will lead the next generation.
I would be happy to work for the growth of our society, both geographically (using my contacts in Eastern Europe and Asia) and in new application fields, helping to foster industrial collaboration. Our branch of materials science has strong potential in bringing new solutions and opportunities in abating climate change and answering to environmental challenges.
I hope also to be able to provide help in organization of research courses, schools and conferences.
Dear Sol-Gel board members,
With this letter let me emphasize my willingness to become a board member of ISGS.
As a Sol-Gel scientist, an Ulrich Award holder and the head of the international laboratory, where the applied materials and Sol-Gel science are the major, I believe that it is my duty to participate actively in the life of the sol-gel community. Currently, my lab (SCAMT ITMO) consists of 10 independent research groups engaged in various interdisciplinary projects ranging from chemistry to materials science, to food science, to microbiology and more. Besides I am a leader of two international master`s degree educational programs. As far as I am tightly in touch with the students, I understand that only personal example can give inspiration to young scientists to follow their dream and to do their best for their career. Receiving Ulrich Award made my students be proud of me and to work harder in the field of Sol-Gel science, I hope that becoming an ISGS Board member will also show them that aims are not easy, but are real to achieve. I think being a member of Sol-Gel board member will also let me deliver the proper information about the latest advanced trends of sol-gel science to my students.
On the other hand, working close to the top sol-gel researches that form the ISGS board will bring me to the new level of career and I will be able to work deeper not only in the scientific field but also in the field of innovation management.
As you may know, currently, I am working on the organization of the 20th International Sol-Gel Conference. Being in touch with the ISGS board provides me the experience of quality scientific management and I understand the significant contribution of board members to the development of sol-gel science and technology, that makes my wish to become one of the ISGS board stronger.
I hope that if I become the first Russian member of ISGS board, it will inspire more Russian scientists to join the international sol-gel society. I am in communication with many Russian researchers, who play a very important role in the formation of the trajectory of the development of the science of the new generation. I think ISGS will seem for them more trustable if they know that there is a reliable person in the board from their country, thus I will be able to promote missions of ISGS frequently.
I believe that in cooperation with Russian scientists and me as the representative we would be able to more sol-gel science and technology to a new advanced level.
You might ask yourself: What curious idea for an industrial to apply to become an
ISGS Board Member !
The reality is that, like Obelix, “I fell in the Sol-Gel Potion” 20 years ago.. This is why I
the Sol-Gel community is my scientific family.
During the past 20 years, my research was centered on sol-gel formulations’
development for a wide range of applications: my journey begun with the synthesis and
surface functionalisation of nanoparticles for glass coatings, optical fibres doping, and
medical imaging as well as some fundamental understanding about precursors’
hydrolysis-condensation onto a nanoparticle’s surface. I then used this knowledge to
develop innovative Sol-Gel chemistries for protective coatings on aeronautical
structural parts as part of Airbus Innovation. For example, NNB and mesoporous
materials for environmentally-friendly corrosion protection of Aluminium alloys and
stimuli-sensitive coatings to detect shock and over-heating in Carbon-Fibre Reinforced
Polymer Composites. For the last 18 months, I extended my research activity, as part
of the Safran Group, to coatings on more challenging aeronautic equipments, including
engines, landing gears, or aircraft’s nacelles.
Moreover, I always have been working closely with great academic and industrial
teams over the world. They taught me how to manage interests of both sides:
developing amazing materials, answering key scientific questions and enhancing Sol-
Gel Science, all this, while maturing the technology towards final applications to
improve daily-life. I am used to say that “Sol-Gel Science & Technology” is not
magical but rather like “Pâtisserie”. It seems so easy to implement, but needs very
accurate and thorough know-how to reach the targeted material’s functionality. I would
like to heighten this role as a “bridge” between Universities and Industries.
Another key interest for me is to ensure the continuity of our Community is by
transferring the knowledge to the new generations of sol-gel scientists. In the continuity
of this pathway and in the path of previous ISGS Boards who succeed in few years to
give birth to an important new domain of chemistry, I will really be proud to contribute
to the Mission of the ISGS.
Finally I wish to increase, my contribution to the promotion of the Sol-Gel Science and
Technology as a potential answer to some of the critical environmental challenge of
our era. I believe that Sol-Gel Technology can be a part of the answer by being
recognised as a fully “Ecofriendly-Chimie Douce”.
To wrap-up, I hope you will give me your confidence to represent the whole Sol-Gel
Community and continue to promote, following the course set by previous Boards:
High Scientific level with a lot of Fun !You might ask yourself: What curious idea for an industrial to apply to become an
ISGS Board Member !
The reality is that, like Obelix, “I fell in the Sol-Gel Potion” 20 years ago.. This is why I
the Sol-Gel community is my scientific family.
During the past 20 years, my research was centered on sol-gel formulations’
development for a wide range of applications: my journey begun with the synthesis and
surface functionalisation of nanoparticles for glass coatings, optical fibres doping, and
medical imaging as well as some fundamental understanding about precursors’
hydrolysis-condensation onto a nanoparticle’s surface. I then used this knowledge to
develop innovative Sol-Gel chemistries for protective coatings on aeronautical
structural parts as part of Airbus Innovation. For example, NNB and mesoporous
materials for environmentally-friendly corrosion protection of Aluminium alloys and
stimuli-sensitive coatings to detect shock and over-heating in Carbon-Fibre Reinforced
Polymer Composites. For the last 18 months, I extended my research activity, as part
of the Safran Group, to coatings on more challenging aeronautic equipments, including
engines, landing gears, or aircraft’s nacelles.
Moreover, I always have been working closely with great academic and industrial
teams over the world. They taught me how to manage interests of both sides:
developing amazing materials, answering key scientific questions and enhancing Sol-
Gel Science, all this, while maturing the technology towards final applications to
improve daily-life. I am used to say that “Sol-Gel Science & Technology” is not
magical but rather like “Pâtisserie”. It seems so easy to implement, but needs very
accurate and thorough know-how to reach the targeted material’s functionality. I would
like to heighten this role as a “bridge” between Universities and Industries.
Another key interest for me is to ensure the continuity of our Community is by
transferring the knowledge to the new generations of sol-gel scientists. In the continuity
of this pathway and in the path of previous ISGS Boards who succeed in few years to
give birth to an important new domain of chemistry, I will really be proud to contribute
to the Mission of the ISGS.
Finally I wish to increase, my contribution to the promotion of the Sol-Gel Science and
Technology as a potential answer to some of the critical environmental challenge of
our era. I believe that Sol-Gel Technology can be a part of the answer by being
recognised as a fully “Ecofriendly-Chimie Douce”.
To wrap-up, I hope you will give me your confidence to represent the whole Sol-Gel
Community and continue to promote, following the course set by previous Boards:
High Scientific level with a lot of Fun !
Prof. Pinna has started working in the field of sol-gel chemistry with development the application of sol-gel chemistry in reverse micelles to metal oxides nanoparticles since 2002. Since 2003 he became interested to the study and application of non-aqueous/non-hydrolytic sol-gel chemistry. In particular together with Prof. Markus Niederberger he developed a large variety of non-hydrolytic hydroxilation and aprotic condensation reactions to many metal oxide and hybrid organic inorganic nanostructures. Nowadays, he is also interested in the application of the fluorolytic sol-gel chemistry for the synthesis of metal fluorides for applications in heterogeneous catalysis and energy storage.
Since the beginning of his independent career he has been in close contact with the sol-gel community and participated actively to the development and the life of the society. He for example organised the sol-gel summer school in Berlin in 2016 and he has been teaching at the sol-gel summer school since 2012. This denotes his motivation towards the promotion of sol-gel science and technology to young researchers. Furthermore, he applied for the organisation of the Internation Sol-Gel Society conference in Berlin in 2021.
During my term as a board member I will also try to revitalise the German Sol-Gel community, indeed I felt that in the last years it has slowly decreased its interest in the society, and its participation in conferences and summer schools organized by the society has progressively decreased. The organisation of the next International Sol-Gel conference in Berlin is a first step towards this objective.
