Raffaella Ocone facts for kids

Raffaella Ocone is a brilliant Professor of Chemical Engineering at Heriot-Watt University in Scotland. She is also a respected member of the Royal Academy of Engineering. Her amazing work has earned her special honors, like being named a Cavaliere (a type of knight) in Italy in 2006. In 2019, she received the OBE award in the UK for her services to engineering.

Early Life and Education

Raffaella Ocone was born in Morcone, Italy. She loved learning and went to the University of Naples Federico II where she earned her first degree in Chemical Engineering. Later, she moved to the United States to study at Princeton University. There, she earned her master's degree in 1989 and her PhD in 1992.

Her Amazing Career

After finishing her PhD, Professor Ocone started her career as a lecturer at the University of Naples Federico II in Italy. This was from 1991 to 1995. She then became a "reader" (a senior academic role) at the University of Nottingham in the UK. She also traveled to teach as a visiting professor at different universities, including Louisiana State University in the US and the Claude Bérnard University in France.

In 1999, Professor Ocone became a professor of chemical engineering at Heriot-Watt University. This was a big deal because she was the first female professor of chemical engineering in Scotland! She also became a Chartered Engineer in 2003 and a Chartered Scientist. These titles show that she is highly skilled and recognized in her field.

What She Researches

Professor Ocone's research focuses on understanding and modeling complex systems where chemicals react. Her work helps design and improve industrial systems that involve how materials flow. She is known around the world for her expertise. In 2013, she was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, which she called "the greatest accolade for an engineer." This means it was the highest honor she could receive as an engineer.

Her research has even helped develop new ways to capture and store carbon, which is important for protecting our planet. She also helped write a report for the UK government about the biofuels industry. Professor Ocone is also very interested in how ethics (doing the right thing) connects with engineering. She even led a group at the Royal Academy of Engineering that focused on teaching ethics.

Awards and Recognitions

Professor Ocone has received many important awards and honors throughout her career:

• Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers (2003)
• Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (2003)
• Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (2006)
• Cavaliere (Knighthood) from the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity (2006)
• Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (2009)
• Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (2013)
• Established Career Fellowship from Heriot-Watt University (2019)
• Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her contributions to engineering (2019)

Sharing Her Knowledge

Professor Ocone believes in sharing her knowledge with others. She has written articles for The Conversation, which is a news source where experts share their ideas. She wrote about the plan to ban new petrol and diesel cars by 2040 and about how sustainable (environmentally friendly) certain energy solutions are.

She also enjoys talking about books! In 2016, she hosted an event in Edinburgh with author Roberto Constantini to discuss detective stories. The year before, she took part in a similar event with author Maurizio de Giovanni. In 2018, she gave a lecture about understanding wet particle systems as part of a discussion on how we get our energy in the 21st century. She has also openly discussed some ideas for solving the carbon crisis, like converting power stations to use wood chips.