Agenda

"Heterogeneous processes in life and technology"

Ivan Gladich
ECLT Fellow
Scientist, Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute, Hamad Bin Khalifa University

24 July 2020, 3 p.m.

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Abstract

Heterogeneous physical chemistry is a relatively new area in physics and chemistry, and it
concerns the investigation of physicochemical processes at the interfaces between different
mediums. A growing number of recent scientific evidences, especially on soft matter
interfaces, has propelled the design of new and destructive technologies for catalysis,
explained the removal and conversion of greenhouse gases affecting the weather and
climate evolution, shaded more light on prebiotic chemistry at the origin of life on Earth.
Here, I will outline two (of the many) examples on how this new research field is offering
the theoretical background for the development of new technologies in catalysis and the
understanding of life processes in nature. In particular, I will present some recent findings
on interfacial processes at aqueous surfaces that have (a) propelled the design of novel
scrubbing system for CO 2 capture and mineralization and (b) shaded more light on an
ancient RNA world on ice at the origin of life on Earth.

Bio sketch

Dr. Ivan Gladich received his doctoral degree in Environmental and Industrial Fluid
Mechanism at the University of Trieste/International Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in
2009. Afterwards, he moved to the department of chemistry at Purdue University (USA) as
Dreyfus Postdoctoral associate, working on polar atmospheric chemistry. In 2011, he joined
the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry in Prague, Czech Republic, where he
investigates physicochemical processes at ice surfaces by exploiting molecular dynamics
simulations. In 2013 he was research assistant at the International School for Advanced
Studies (SISSA) in Trieste, applying computational methods for the design of drug sensors in
food industries and chemotherapy treatments. Since 2015 is permanent research staff at
the Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI) and supporting lecture at the
Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar. His main research activity is the investigation of
physicochemical processes at atmospheric and technological relevant interfaces by
exploiting computational chemistry and physics tools. Since 2020 is responsible for the
recently established computational catalysis effort in QEERI.