Professor recognized for supporting electrochemistry research

Kingston, ON – Dr Gregory Jerkiewicz, a professor in Queen’s University’s Department of Chemistry, recently received the RC Jacobsen Award from the Electrochemical Society (ECS). The award is a rarely given honour reserved for outstanding contributions to the society’s Canadian section.

“I am honoured because the previous recipients of the award were people who helped establish the Canadian section during the early days of the society,” says Dr Jerkiewicz.

Dr Jerkiewicz has promoted the ECS’ objectives of fostering research and supporting the education of new researchers and engineers in the field of electrochemistry since joining the society in 1989. From 1997 to 2010, he served as a member of the executive committee of the Canadian section in various capacities. He has also organized or co-organized 15 symposiums on electrochemistry, which have been held at Queen’s through the ECS and in Hawaii during Pacifichem, a conference held every five years for chemistry researchers in the Pacific Basin region.

Dr Jerkiewicz’s research group includes graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who are currently studying platinum degradation. The research has the potential to significantly extend the lifespan of fuel cells charged from renewable energy sources.