The academician professor Bogdan C. Simionescu, vice-president of the Romanian Academy for two terms and president of the Doctoral School of the Romanian Academy for eight years, whose scientific activity is reflected in over 400 works, of which more than 350 published in journals, died international.
Academician Bogdan C. Simionescu Photo: UGAL
“The Romanian Academy announces with deep sadness the passing away, on Thursday, October 24, 2024, of the academic professor Bogdan C. Simionescu, a prominent personality of Romanian and international chemistry, mentor of many generations of chemists and vice-president of the Romanian Academy in the period 2014-2022” , transmitted, on Thursday, the Romanian Academy.
Who was Bogdan C. Simionescu
Born on March 16, 1948, as the son of a great Romanian chemist, Cristofor Simionescu, to whom he was very attached spiritually and professionally, he continued his mission, which he fulfilled at the level of excellence. Meritorious graduate of the Faculty of Industrial Chemistry of the Iaşi Polytechnic Institute, in 1971, he remains at the department since the year of graduation. Shortly after, in 1975, he obtained his doctorate at the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium.
“With an obvious pedagogical vocation, appreciated and loved by students, he was for several decades a professor of Polymer Science, in the Natural and Synthetic Polymers Department of the “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University in Iasi. He was the head of the Department of Macromolecules, at the same university (1996-2003) and associate professor of the “Politehnica” University in Bucharest (1994-2006). PhD supervisor at the “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University in Iaşi and at the “Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry in Iaşi, he supervised over 45 chemistry doctors“, reminds the Romanian Academy.
Awarded by the Romanian Academy for a series of works
He has taught as a visiting professor at renowned universities in the world: Kyoto, Mulhouse, Montpellier 2, Angers, Rouen, National School of Mines in Paris, CEMEF – Sophia Antipolis, Dunkerque, Freiburg, Polymer Chemistry Research Center, Zabrze, Poland.
The preferred fields of activity and research were the chemistry of macromolecular compounds; physics of polymers; technology of macromolecular compounds; thiopolymers; the physico-chemical bases of natural and synthetic polymers; biopolymers and smart materials; biologically active polymers. In 1985, the Romanian Academy awarded him a prestigious award for the series of works in the field of plasma-induced polymerization and solutions of polymers with very high molecular masses.
He headed the Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry “Petru Poni” in Iasi
Academician Bogdan C. Simionescu was a scientific researcher at the “Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry in Iaşi, which he led as director in the period 2000-2014. Under his leadership, the institute developed an effervescent scientific collaboration with institutions and personalities of chemistry from all over the world, obtaining the title of excellence in research at the European level.
“His scientific activity is reflected in more than 400 works, of which more than 350 are published in international journals, in books and chapters printed at prestigious publishing houses abroad, patents, as well as in more than 300 invited conferences held in Europe, USA, Canada, Japan”more specifically the Romanian Academy.
For his scientific and pedagogical performance, as well as for his involvement in social life, academician Bogdan C. Simionescu received a series of medals and distinctions: the “Nihil sine Deo Medal of the Royal House of Romania”, the “Dimitrie Cantemir” Medal of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, Medal of honor “Friend of the Jewish Communities of Romania”. He was a Doctor Honoris Causa of the universities “Politehnica” from Bucharest, “Vasile Goldiș” from Arad, “Dunărea de Jos” from Galati and Honorary Citizen of the Municipality of Iaşi and of the commune of Dumbrăveni in Suceava County.
Decorated with the National Order “Star of Romania” in the rank of Knight
He was decorated by the Presidency of Romania in 2015 with the National Order “Star of Romania” in the rank of Knight.
In 2000, he was elected a corresponding member of the Academy, and in 2009, a full member. Deeply attached to the Romanian Academy, he was vice-president of the institution for two terms (2014-2022), president of the Iasi Branch of the Romanian Academy (2012-2014), president of the Doctoral School of the Romanian Academy (2014-2022).
“With the departure from us of acad. Bogdan C. Simionescu, members of the Romanian Academy regret the loss of a colleague, a specialist and a mentor. May God rest him in peace!”the institution sent.
