Greetings, dear reader!

Ben Feringa: My Journey in Science

I was born on May 18, 1951, in Barger-Compascuum, a small village in the Netherlands, where I grew up on our family farm. Surrounded by nature and the rhythm of rural life as one of ten siblings, I developed a deep curiosity about how the world works. This led me to the University of Groningen, where I earned my master’s degree in 1974 and my PhD in 1978, studying asymmetric oxidation of phenols under the guidance of Professor Hans Wynberg. Those early years shaped my passion for chemistry and set the course for my career.

After a rewarding period at Royal Dutch Shell from 1978 to 1984, I returned to Groningen as a lecturer, becoming a professor in 1988. My research has focused on molecular nanotechnology, and I’m proud to have developed the first light-driven molecular motor in the 1990s, a discovery that opened new possibilities in nanotechnology. This work, along with creating a molecular nanocar, earned me the 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, shared with dear colleagues Sir J. Fraser Stoddart and Jean-Pierre Sauvage.

With over 650 publications and the privilege of mentoring more than 100 PhD students, I’ve been fortunate to contribute to fields like drug delivery and responsive materials. My international collaborations, especially leading research on self-healing materials in China since 2017, have been incredibly fulfilling, and I’m honored by recognitions like the Spinoza Prize and the Chinese Government Friendship Award in 2022.

I have the motivation to write for safrole.com to share my passion for chemistry and make complex science like organic chemistry accessible to a broad audience. With over 650 publications and experience mentoring students, I value clear science communication. Contributing articles would let me engage readers, demystify nanotechnology, and foster innovation through education.