Fabio Ribeiro, R. Norris and Eleanor Shreve Professor of Chemical Engineering and Director of the National Science Foundation Engineering Center for Innovative and Strategic Transformation of Alkane Resources (CISTAR), was recognized by the Brazilian Embassy with the science and technology prize at the 5th Scientific & Technological Diaspora of Brazil in the United States event on December 6, 2022. Ribeiro was one of six Brazilians to be presented the award by Brazilian Ambassador Nestor Forster for their contributions to the scientific community and strengthening ties between the United States and Brazil.

 “I feel extremely honored to have been included with this group of accomplished scientists for connecting U.S. and Brazilian institutions in the common quest to develop solutions to implement the energy transition,” Ribeiro said.

Co-hosted by the Brazilian Embassy and the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, the event brought together distinguished scientists, policy makers, and entrepreneurs from both Brazil and the U.S including H.E. Nestor Forster Jr., Ambassador of Brazil to the United States, Jose Fernandez, Under Secretary for Economy Growth, Energy, and the Environment,  representatives from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the US Department of Energy, and the presidents from the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), the University of São Paulo, the University of Campinas and Brazil’s Aeronautics Institute of Technology (ITA). Panel discussions were focused on topics of vital importance such as the value of the US and Brazil collaborations in science & technology, climate change, sustainability, aerospace and healthcare.

Ribeiro served as a panelist for the discussion “Scientific Advancements for a Green Economy” where he shared objectives from the NSF-funded Center-to-Center project between CISTAR and the Brazilian partners RCGI and CINE. The three centers are working together to create pathways between Brazil and the U.S. for an economically feasible energy transition. 

Ribeiro joined Purdue University in 2003 and works with the CISTAR team to bring together industry, academia, and government to cultivate engineering discovery and education in research areas critical to our nation’s strength.