The Young African Talents award, established in 2017 on the 10th anniversary of the Eni Award and given to young talent from the African Continent, was presented to Emmanuel Kweinor Tetteh of the Durban University of Technology and Madina Mohamed Mahmmod Mohamed of the American University in Cairo.
Tetteh assessed a process that combines innovative photocatalysts with biological treatment systems for waste water, simultaneously converting CO2 into fuel. Mahmoud’s work focusses on preparing innovative membranes to treat water from production.
The Young Researcher of the Year award is presented every year to two researchers under the age of 30 who have received a research doctorate in an Italian university. It was won this year by Alberto Pizzolato and Matteo Monai. The former is a student at Turin Polytechnic and presented research focussed on modelling methods for 3D printing, in order to establish energy technology systems.
The latter is from the University of Trieste and presented research into developing nanostructured catalysts based on non-noble – and therefore cheap – metal alloys, for use in the energy sector, particularly for converting biomass fuels and chemical products.
The awards ceremony took place at the Quirinal Palace on 10 October and was attended by the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella.