Valery Fokin (born 1971) is the best chemist of the decade (according to Thompson Reuters), and alumnus of the Faculty of Chemistry of Lobachevsky State University of Nizhni Novgorod. Prof. Fokin was the first to discover the Azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction in water by ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and its salts.

Currently, Valery Fokin is involved in the research of “click-chemistry” – a type of chemical synthesis that allows generating substances quickly, “in a click” and almost without any waste products. This year, Thompson Reuters included Valery Fokin into its annual list of potential recipients of the Nobel Prize.

 

Valery Fokin’s visit to Nizhni Novgorod was made possible through the Competitiveness Enhancement Program implemented by UNN. The tasks of the Program include the creation of a Chemistry lab with world leading researchers as consultants.

Prof. Fokin’s agenda in Lobachevsky State University of Nizhni Novgorod includes a lecture and a number of meetings with UNN researchers and students. On June 2, UNN students had a chance to present their research to Valery Fokin.

“Both undergraduate and graduate students demonstrated research projects of a good quality”, said Prof. Fokin. “UNN students have achieved some promising results in their scientific pursuits. The science is variant, it happens so that one does not achieve the desired results on the first try, but it is important to keep an interest in science, no matter what happens. UNN students have that interest”, he added.

 

 For video interview with Prof. Fokin click here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MSJGXnwYcY