Bernard L. Feringa

Synthetic Organic Chemist

Dutch Barger-Compascuum, Netherlands

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Quick Info

ProfessionSynthetic Organic Chemist
NationalityDutch
Date of Birth18/05/1951
Age74 years
BirthplaceBarger-Compascuum, Netherlands

Latest News about Bernard L. Feringa

12/01/2026

A manuscript co-authored by Ben L. Feringa was featured on the cover page of Accounts of Chemical Research. This marks the first published manuscript of 2026 featuring his contributions.

01/12/2025

Ben L. Feringa was announced as a co-winner of the 2025 Feynman Experiment Prize by the Foresight Institute. He received the award for his pioneering work in controlling molecular motion, an achievement recognized for advancing nanotechnology and the goal of molecular manufacturing.

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Bio/Wiki

Full nameBernard Lucas "Ben" Feringa
NicknameBen Feringa

Physical Stats & More

Height5' 8" (173 cm)
Eye ColorBlue
Hair ColorBrown

Educational Qualification(s)

PhDUniversity of Groningen, Netherlands (1978)
MScUniversity of Groningen, Netherlands (1974)

Personal Life

Zodiac signTaurus
HometownGroningen, Netherlands
SchoolKatholiek Drents College, the Netherlands
College/UniversityUniversity of Groningen, Netherlands
Food HabitNon-Vegetarian

Relationships & More

Marital StatusMarried

Family

FatherGeert Feringa (1918–1993)
MotherElizabeth Hake (1924–2013)
SiblingsHe was second of the ten siblings.
SpouseBetty Feringa
Children
Daughters
  • Femke (a cell biologist)
  • Hannah (a PhD in food allergies)
  • Emma

Career

Fields
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Materials Science
  • Nanotechnology
  • Photochemistry
  • Catalysis
  • Supramolecular Chemistry
  • Photopharmacology
Thesis
  • Asymmetric oxidation of phenols
  • Atropisomerism and optical activity (1978)
Doctoral AdvisorLate Prof. Hans Wijnberg
Awards/Achievements
  • The Spinoza Award (2004)
  • The Prelog gold medal (2005)
  • The Norrish Award of the ACS (2007)
  • The Paracelsus medal (2008)
  • The Chirality medal (2009)
  • The RSC Organic Stereochemistry Award (2011)
  • Humboldt Award (2012)
  • The Grand Prix Scientifique Cino del Duca (French Academy 2012)
  • The Marie Curie medal (2013)
  • The Solvay Chemistry for the Future Award (2015)
  • Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2016)
  • The Centenary Prize of the Royal Society of Chemistry (2017)
  • The European Gold Medal presented by the European Chemical Society (EuChemS) (2018)
  • The Raman Chair of the Indian Academy of Sciences, an honorary position (2019)
  • Feynman Experiment Prize (2025)

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. His grandfather’s family relocated from Emsland to the Bourtanger moor in northeastern Netherlands in 1866.
2. Bernard L. Feringa's father owned a farm in Barger-Compascuum village where he worked and was involved in various community activities.
3. The Feringa family raised animals for milk, eggs, and meat, had a peat for heating, a water well, and a large garden for fruits and vegetables.
4. After completing his PhD in 1978 at the University of Groningen, Feringa became a lecturer there in 1984 and was later promoted to Full Professor in 1988.
5. In 1997, Feringa accomplished a 200 km long-distance tour skating in 12 hours, setting a record.
6. Feringa discovered microscopic switches and motors composed of molecules that mimic directional movement, similar to the human eye.
7. His work focuses on using specific chemicals to facilitate controlled reactions, enhancing the efficiency of producing medicines and other valuable compounds.
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