The Electrochemical Society has selected KAUST's Professor Enrico Traversa to be included in the first set of electrochemical and solid state science themed trading cards. The cards will be introduced at the 227th ECS Meeting in Chicago this May. This inaugural run of 50 cards will feature some of the greatest scientists past and present in ECS related domains—including battery, energy technology, fuel cells, sensors, electronics, and more. The cards will include a short biography/achievements description followed by the relevant professors "stats", including how many patents, research papers, publications and books produced or featured in, along with how many ECS awards the individual has won.

Professor Traversa is the Principle Investigator at the Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage (MECS) Lab within the Physical Science and Engineering Division. Professor Traversa is listed in the Essential Science Indicators/Web of Science as a highly-cited researcher, both in the Materials Science and Chemistry categories. He joined ECS in 1997, where he has served on many committees and was Chair of the High Temperature Materials Division (2009-2011), and became an ECS Fellow in 2013. At present he is Chair of the ECS European Section. Professor Traversa is also the editor-in-chief of Materials for Renewable and Sustainable Energy, a peer-reviewed open access journal sponsored by KACST.

An Incredible honor

"I have been a longstanding member and contributor of the ECS. For my body of work to be considered worthy of being in the first batch of 50 including some of the biggest movers and shakers in the field, past and present whom I have a great admiration and respect for is an incredible honor. As an Italian it means a lot to me to carry on the legacy of Luigi Galvani and Alessandro Volta in electrochemistry. I think this is a wonderful avenue the ECS is using in making contributions in the field of Electrochemical and Solid State science relatable and fun," Traversa said.

"The scientists who have changed and are changing how we function in the world should be our heroes," says ECS executive director Roque Calvo. "They have a role in almost everything in our world today - from making your mobile phone work to battery powered cars to solar and wind powered cities to improving sanitation in countries with no toilets."

Disseminating knowledge in an open and accessible way

The ECS holds international meetings in the spring and fall of each year, which provide a forum for exchanging information on the latest scientific and technical developments in the fields of electrochemical and solid-state science and technology. The 227th ECS Meeting will be held in the Chicago Hilton from May 24 – 28, and is expected to attract over 2,000 scientists and engineers from industry, government, and academic institutions. The meeting will consist of various poster sessions, panel discussions, professional development workshops, special summits, and networking and social events.

The trading cards represent the ECS's continued effort to raise awareness and improve the general public's understanding and appreciation of electrochemical and solid state sciences. Through these trading cards, the ECS continues to fulfill its mission of disseminating knowledge in an open and accessible way.

- By David Murphy, KAUST News