The Edward E. Whitacre College of Engineering is proud to announce that Dr. Gerardine G. Botte, Founder and Director, CASFER an NSF Engineering Research Center and Professor and Whitacre Endowed Chair in Sustainable Energy in the Chemical Engineering Department, has just been elected as an International Member of the National Academy of Science in Venezuela.

The Academia de Ciencias Físicas Matemáticas y Naturales (ACFIMAN) in Venezuela, is equivalent to the National Academy of Science in the US (NAS). ACFIMAN plays a similar role to Venezuela as NAS does in the US. In fact, all members interact with members of the different academy of science in the world.

 

"This is the highest honor that any scientist in Venezuela can achieve, similar to someone in the US." says Dr. Botte. "It is an honor because only individuals who are highly recognized by their scientific and academic achievements are nominated and elected to be members. Nominations and elections only happened internally by members."

When asked what the purpose of the organization is, Dr. Botte replied, "The main function of the Academy of Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences is to promote, integrate and disseminate the advancement of scientific and technological knowledge in the country, within the framework of the universality of knowledge. To this end: it will contribute to the creation of scientific and technological knowledge and will ensure its use in terms of social welfare and sustainable development. It will stimulate the training of human resources for science and technology by promoting the best science teaching practices. It will carry out studies and report on global scientific and technological advances and within this context it will analyze the country's situation. Advise public and private entities on matters within its competence. To achieve these objectives, the Academy selects its members based on their experience and recognized academic achievements."

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About Dr. Botte

Dr. Gerardine (Gerri) G. Botte is a Professor and the Whitacre Department Chair in Chemical Engineering at Texas Tech University with over 22 years of experience in the development of electrochemical processes and advanced water treatment systems. She is a visionary and a recognized leader in electrochemical science and technology. She has served in leadership roles for the Electrochemical Society and is currently the Third Vice President of the Electrochemical Society and the Chair of the Electrochemical Processes Engineering and Technology Division of the International Society of Electrochemistry. She is also the Editor in Chief of the Journal of Applied Electrochemistry. In 2014, she was named a Fellow of the Electrochemical Society for her contributions and innovation in electrochemical processes and engineering. She became a Chapter Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors in 2012. In 2010, she was named a Fellow of the World Technology Network for her contributions to the development of sustainable and environmental technologies. Previous to Texas Tech, Dr. Botte was University Distinguished Professor and Russ Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Ohio University, the founder and Director of Ohio University's Center for Electrochemical Engineering Research (CEER), and the founder and Director of the Consortium for Electrochemical Processes and Technology (CEProTECH) -an Industry-University Cooperative Research Center. 

Dr. Botte has 192 publications including peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, and 59 granted patents. Dr. Botte and members of her research group are working on the foundation of applying electrochemical engineering principles for advanced and sustainable manufacturing, process intensification, food/energy/water sustainability, and nanomaterials with expertise in electrosynthesis, batteries, electrolyzers, sensors, fuel cells, mathematical modeling, and electrocatalysis. Example projects include: electrochemical extraction of/and recovery of rare earth elements from solid fuels and produced water, hydrogen production from ammonia, biomass, urea, coal, and pet-coke, synthesis of carbon nanotubes and graphene, water remediation and disinfection, selective catalytic reduction, ammonia synthesis, electrochemical conversion of CO2 to high-value products, novel electrolytes for thermal batteries, advanced electrowinning, and electrochemical microbial sensors. Dr. Botte is also an entrepreneur, she has been involved in the commercialization of technologies and has founded and co-founded companies. She received her Ph.D. in 2000 (under the direction of Dr. Ralph E. White) and M.E. in 1998, both in Chemical Engineering, from the University of South Carolina. Prior to graduate school, Dr. Botte worked as a process engineer in a petrochemical plant; she was involved in the production of fertilizers and polymers. Dr. Botte received her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Universidad de Carabobo (Venezuela) in 1994.

 

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