Fabio Ribeiro, R. Norris and Eleanor Shreve Professor of Chemical Engineering and Director of the National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center for Innovative and Strategic Transformation of Alkane Resources (CISTAR), has been elected to the distinction of Fellow by the world’s largest general scientific society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Ribeiro, along with five other Purdue University faculty members have been selected for the honor. 

The council is honoring Ribeiro for his distinguished contributions to the field of surface catalysis, particularly for unraveling concepts and mechanisms that determine chemical reactivity. Ribeiro’s current work focuses on addressing the global energy transition through the development of decarbonization technologies to enable U.S. breakthroughs for sustainable resources. As director of CISTAR, the NSF-funded Engineering Research Center, Ribeiro leads a national enterprise to create transformative engineered systems that convert light hydrocarbons into lower carbon footprint chemicals and transportation fuels. CISTAR impact includes advancing the decarbonization of manufacturing processes, modular design, and electrification based on renewable energy sources. He has also helped to coalesce the national ELECTRIFY group of over 100 partners, including the most influential industry, national laboratories, non-profits, state government and universities in the U.S. with the key objective to electrify the process industry and accelerate our nation’s energy transition.

Since 1847, AAAS has recognized scientists, engineers, and innovators who have made significant advancements in science and excelled in communicating and interpreting science to the public. Ribeiro will accept the blue and gold Fellowship rosette and certificate at the Fellows Forum that will take place at the 2023 AAAS Annual Meeting.