Fernando Sapiña, professor of Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Valencia and researcher at the Institute of Materials Science (ICMUV), died this Tuesday, January 16. The scientific communicator also recently worked on the preparation and characterization of materials for thermal barriers, multiferroic materials and nanomaterials. The Scientific Culture and Innovation Unit of the University of Valencia will announce the Fernando Sapiña Awards for scientific dissemination and communication in his memory.

Fernando Sapiña's research focused on the design of synthesis routes for materials with controlled composition, microstructure and properties, as well as their characterization. He has worked, among other topics, on molecular magnetism, high critical temperature superconductors, magnetoresistive materials and materials for thermal barriers. In these areas, he is the author or co-author of more than 90 research articles.

Fernando Sapiña was a member of the Advisory Council of the Chair of Science Dissemination-UCC+ and of the Universitat de València, where he directed the collections Sense Fronteres, Sin Fronteras and Ciència entre lletres (Publicacions de la Universitat de València). In addition, he published the books A sustainable future and El repte energètic, finalists for the Estudi General European Prize for Scientific Dissemination in 2000 and 2004, respectively, as a result of his concern for global change and sustainable development.

As a scientific disseminator, Fernando Sapiña has given numerous talks, workshops and has participated in activities related to global change, nanotechnology and the relationship between cooking and science. He has collaborated with the magazine Métode, where he has coordinated several monographs and had a permanent section, La ciència a taula; and with Acció Cultural del País Valenciano, within the Espai Ciència.