On Wednesday, November 18, 2015, Her Majesty Queen Mathilde of Belgium attended the 2015 Chemistry for the Future Solvay Prize held at the Palais des Académies in Brussels.

The award went to Professor Ben Feringa from the University of Groningen in Groningen, Netherlands. Professor Feringa received the Solvay Prize for his work on “…unidirectional molecular motors, a research field that paves the way to new therapeutic and technological applications with nanorobots…” according to a press release.

Established in 2013 the Solvay Prize, worth €300,000, aims to recognize every other year a:

“…major scientific discovery that lays the foundation of the chemistry of the future while promoting human progress. It underlines chemistry’s essential role, as a science and as well as an industry, to help solve some of the most pressing issues facing our planet.” 

Click here to view photos. 

Photo courtesy of the Belgian royal court

On November 18, 2015, Their Majesties King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium presided over a ceremony at the Palais Royal in Brussels dedicated to individuals who received a nobility title by Arrêtés Royaux (Royal Decree).

And, finally, on November 14, 2015, Their Majesties attended the baptism of HH Prince Philip of Saxe-Coburg und Gotha at Schloss Callenberg — son of THs Hereditary Prince Hubertus and Hereditary Princess Kelly of Saxe-Coburg und Gotha —  in Coburg, Germany.  For more information about last Saturday’s event please click here. 

Photo courtesy of the Belgian royal court