!!Michel Che

[Obituary|Acad_Main/News2_Archive/Michel Che (1941 - 2019)], Academia Europaea
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!Biography

Michel Che was born 1941 in Lyons, France. He received his doctorate (EPR study of titanium dioxide) in 1968 at the Ecole Sperieur de Chimie Industrielle and the University of Lyons, respectively. He studied as postdoctoral fellow at Princeton University (1969–1971). He joined the CNRS Institute of Catalysis in Villeurbanne until he was appointed Professor at University of Paris VI: Pierre et Marie Curie in 1975 and Senior Member of the Institut Universitaire de France in 1995.
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Michel Che took an active part in the promotion and organisation of catalysis and was the President-Founder of EFCATS (European Federation of Catalysis Societies) with creation in 1993 of the cycle of the biennial “EuropaCat” congresses, and President of IACS  (International Association of Catalysis Societies) in 2000–2004, culminating in the organisation and opening of the 13th International Congress on Catalysis held in Paris in 2004.
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On December 10, 2004 Michel Che held a Francois Gault lecture entitled:\\
"''The fascinating role of water revealed in supported catalysts preparation''"
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He received several honorary doctorates and is member of several European scientific academies. 2008 Michel Che received "The Award for International Scientific Cooperation" from the Chinese Academy of Sciences for his research on catalysis, conducted in cooperation with Chinese public research for the last 30 years. This prize is one of the highest forms of recognition bestowed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. 
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His main scientific interest has largely been devoted to catalysis processes involving gas-solid, liquid-solid and solid-solid interfaces. He has pioneered a molecular approach to heterogeneous catalysis, based on transition elements taken as probes, specific isotopes and physical techniques, which endows him with an original position in the field. His work has led to the emergence of interfacial coordination chemistry at the junction of colloidal, electro-, supramolecular, geo- and solid-state chemistries. His studies have largely contributed to improve our understanding of the elementary processes involved in laboratory/industrial catalysis, and particularly water-mediated assemblies in catalysts preparation.
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His work has led to around 400 publications in international journals. 
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[Full CV|che_michel_cv_Jan2011.pdf]