Dankesrede – Rom, 21.11.2024 (Englisch)

USA

Omar M. Yaghi

Balzan Preis 2024 für Nanoporöse Materialien für Umweltanwendungen

Für seine bahnbrechenden Beiträge zur Entdeckung und Entwicklung nanoporöser Gerüstmaterialien und zur Förderung ihrer Anwendungen bei der Kohlenstoffabscheidung, Wasserstoffspeicherung und Wassergewinnung aus der Wüstenluft. Yaghi entwickelte grundlegende Konstruktionsprinzipien und innovative Synthesemethoden und schuf damit zwei umfangreiche Kategorien von nanoporösen Materialien: metallorganische Gerüste (MOFs – Metal-Organic Frameworks) und kovalente organische Gerüste (COFs – Covalent-Organic Frameworks). Diese innovativen Materialien stehen heute an vorderster Front bei den weltweiten Bemühungen, den kritischen Nachhaltigkeits- und Umweltherausforderungen unseres Planeten entgegenzutreten.

Mr. President,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thank you so much. Standing here today, I am filled with immense gratitude and humility as I accept this prestigious honor. I wish to express my deepest appreciation to the Balzan Foundation, the selection committees, and the organizers of this celebration. I extend my heartfelt thanks to the principals of the Balzan Foundation for their inspiring vision of a better world. I also want to acknowledge my former and present students, postdoctoral fellows, and collaborators, whose shared passion for discovery made this journey exciting and transformative. I am truly honored to join the distinguished scholars who have received this award in years past.

Dear friends and distinguished guests, as I reflect on my journey, I am reminded that science is a powerful force – one that can propel anyone, regardless of background, to the heights of achievement. Science doesn’t require wealth or privilege; it demands curiosity, persistence, and the courage to experiment. In many ways, it is the ultimate equalizer. It is a field where the underprivileged can shine, where the only limits are the ones we impose on ourselves.

I was born into a refugee family, and like many who face daunting odds, the path to success was far from guaranteed. We had very little, and my parents worked tirelessly to provide for us, despite their lack of formal education. Yet, even in the face of uncertainty, they instilled in me the drive to keep moving forward, to seek knowledge, and to believe in the power of learning.

My break in life came when I was just ten years old: I stumbled into my school’s library and found drawings of chemical structures. These drawings were simple and unassuming to most, but to me, they were gateways to possibility. That chance encounter sparked a lifelong passion for chemistry, and it reminded me that you don’t need perfect circumstances to make a start – what you need is opportunity, even the smallest, and the determination to follow it.

I didn’t wait for ideal conditions to pursue my passion for science – I couldn’t afford to wait. Instead, I immersed myself in the work, learning, experimenting, and discovering as I went along. Over time, my passion led me to create new materials – MOFs, COFs, and ZIFs – that have revolutionized the way we think about chemistry and materials. These discoveries are already making a significant impact on clean air, clean energy, and clean water for a safe environment.

This journey has taught me that the power of science is transformative – it can elevate anyone who dares to engage with it, to change lives, and to shape the future. No matter where you start, scientific discovery gives you the tools to rise.

But there is something else that science has always demanded from those who pursue it: the courage to leave home, to venture into the unknown, and to sacrifice the comforts of proximity to loved ones. Historically, scientists have been travellers, immigrants, and seekers, moving across borders and continents in pursuit of knowledge. They have left behind their families, their homes, and the familiar, driven by the unyielding desire to understand the world and solve its mysteries.

I, too, have been on this journey. Like so many before me, I have spent years far from home, away from the very people I love, because the pursuit of knowledge often takes us across the globe. In many ways, this is the reality of science – a quest that calls us beyond the borders of comfort and familiarity, to places where discovery awaits. And it is in these distant lands, amidst new ideas and cultures, that we grow not only as scientists but as human beings.

As I stand here today, I accept this award not just for myself, but for everyone who has ever felt that their beginnings were too humble to make a difference. My story is proof that remarkable things can emerge from even the most unremarkable beginnings. Science is the path that offers this opportunity to all.

In closing, I want to emphasize the responsibility we all have to future generations. The world needs more scientists from every corner of society, and it is up to us to inspire and support the next generation. That is why my research group has established centers in countries like Vietnam, Malaysia, and Jordan – places where opportunity might be slim, but where the spark of discovery can transform lives. Science has been my path, and now I want it to be the path for others as well.

To everyone here today, I express my deepest gratitude. Together, let us continue to explore, to experiment, and to ensure that the power of discovery remains accessible to all.

Thank you.