Dan Shechtman

Dan Shechtman is a renowned Israeli chemist who has made significant contributions to the field of materials science. He holds the position of Philip Tobias Professor of Materials Science at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and is also associated with the US Department of Energy's Ames National Laboratory and Iowa State University as a professor of materials science. Although his field of expertise is often mistakenly associated with astronomy, his work has been primarily focused on chemistry and materials science.

Shechtman's most notable achievement came on April 8, 1982, when he discovered the icosahedral phase, a finding that led to the establishment of a new field of study: quasiperiodic crystals, also known as quasicrystals. This groundbreaking discovery earned him the 2011 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, a testament to his innovative work in the field. As a Nobel laureate, Shechtman joins a select group of Israeli scientists who have received the prestigious award in chemistry, solidifying his position as a leading figure in his field.