Senate of the university awarded the title to the Ukrainian scientist for his outstanding achievements in the field of physical chemistry, according to the justification, particularly for his "fundamental contribution to research related to nanomaterials, nanocomposites and biomaterials, their synthesis and characterization using modern methods".

"The scientific activity of Vladimir Gun\'ko, continuing for over 30 years, presents a picture of dynamic development of his interests linked to the development of current problems in the global science and technology relating to the synthesis of a new generation of materials" - said in a eulogy Prof. Roman Leboda from the Faculty of Chemistry, UMCS.

He emphasised that in his research Prof. Gun\'ko uses the maximum possible number of research methods - both instrumental and theoretical - and therefore his publications contain a thorough characterization of the properties of tested materials.

"In consequence, in many cases this has served the development of procedures allowing the synthesis of materials having optimal properties for a specific purposes in technology and medicine" - added Prof. Leboda .

Prof. Gun\'ko in his lecture emphasized that he had been working with UMCS for many years, and the result of this collaboration were numerous studies of new materials and obtaining international grants, and therefore he considered the awarded honours also the recognition of cooperation of researchers from UMCS and his home institute: Chuiko Institute of Surface Chemistry of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

"Over the last two decades and we have studied and synthesised hundreds of nanooxide materials in collaboration with colleagues from the UMCS Faculty of Chemistry" - he said. He explained that these materials could be used , for example, as carriers of drugs, catalysts, in particular photocatalysts, polymer fillers.

Prof. Leboda reminded that Poland was perceived in the world as a bridge between Western Europe and the East, and granting an honorary doctorate to Prof. Gun\'ko would strengthens the role of UMCS "in building scientific bridges east of the borders of the European Union".

Prof. Gun\'ko was born in 1951 in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine. He studied physics at the State University and, after graduating as theoretic physicist, he worked at the university as an engineer. In 1976 he moved to Kiev, where he was employed in the Department of Chemistry and Oil, and in 1985 he began working at the Institute of Surface Chemistry, where he works to this day.

He authored more than 420 scientific publications, primarily research articles and overview papers in various scientific journals, but also books, and collective works, which he co-authored.

PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland

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