Ana Sofía Varela, Mexican researcher at UNAM, one of the world's most promising scientists

Ana Sofía Varela Gasque, of the UNAM Institute of Chemistry (IQ), has been named one of the 15 most promising young scientists from around the world for her research on the use carbon dioxide. (International Rising Talents) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the L 'Oréal Foundation.

The university received this recognition Thursday at UNESCO Headquarters in Parisas part of the Oréal-UNESCO International Women's Science Awards Ceremony, which pushes these two organizations to improve their representation in scientific careers.

In 2017, Varela Gasque won the L'Oréal UNESCO-CONACYT-CONALMEX-AMC grant. for his work in developing new materials to accelerate the chemical reactions to transform dioxide carbon (CO2) in non-polluting materials.

The university commented that with her line of research, she was trying to change things, look for ways to reuse CO2 in a sustainable way. "The use of inexpensive materials is attractive. My postdoctoral work focused on early reports with non-metallic catalysts, and I think it was pretty new. "

He is part of the department of physical chemistry of IQ, where he began his research in electrocatalysis: the use of electrical energy to generate chemical reactions that can modify the properties of carbon dioxide and convert it into another compound. based on carbon, as fuels and sustainable compounds that can be used by the chemical industry.

"I finished my master's degree in fuel and energy for the future in Madrid, Spain, and from there, I started working in the sector ofElectrocatalysis, which essentially consists of badociating electrical energy with chemical reactions.

"What I do is the basic science, to understand a chemical process that, in the future, will contribute to the conversion of CO2 emissions and the reduction of CO2 emissions." reduce the levels we have in the atmosphere. We work with hydrogen batteries, that is to say that we feed ourselves with hydrogen and we are projecting an electric current, we are looking for materials to make this process as efficient as possible, "he explained.

Another process involves the use of electrical energy to perform chemical reactions. "What I have always studied is the reduction of CO2, this reaction plans to use electrical energy as a source of energy to turn it into carbon-based compounds that serve as precursors in the chemical industry, or even fuels ".

The goal, he said, is to find inexpensive materials that make this process easier. "They are called catalysts, they are usually metals (copper, gold or silver) and they are used as an alternative to carbon, which is much more abundant. "

"CO2 is seen as a greenhouse gas and causing climate change, so The idea is to migrate to renewable energy and no longer use fossil fuels. However, the reality is that this process will be delayed and nothing simplethis contribution represents an alternative to what we can do with carbon dioxide. "

The academic pointed out that UNAM "is at home, where I was trained, then I continued my studies abroad, but my dream has always been to come back, I found a job as a researcher and I was able to contribute to the training of the students ".

Finally, he pointed out that he had a lot of things to do, one of them consisting of consolidating his lab. "This award helps me recognize the University and continue my research alongside young Mexicans."

For 21 editions, the L'Oréal-UNESCO international awards for women scientists have supported and raised the profile of 107 laureates and more than 3,000 talented young scientists, Ph.D. and postdoctoral candidates, to whom they have awarded scholarships. research, awarded annually.

With the International Rising Talents program, the two organizations are promoting postdoctoral researchers who have recently received a local L'Oréal-UNESCO scholarship, offering them an additional grant and the possibility of an international exhibition.

Of the nearly 280 national and regional scholarships supported each year, the program For women in science selected the 15 most promising researchers.

In addition, a special training program will be organized to provide them with additional tools, such as speaking skills to train them for a long-term scientific career and allow them to communicate their results to a non-specialist audience.