Svetlana Lazarova

Svetlana Lazarova will carry the Olympic torch. This is her story:

Svetlana is a researcher for the CNRS (National Centre for Scientific Research) who works as the director of the Catalysis and Spectrochemistry Laboratory in Caen. A specialist in zeolites, microporous crystals with applications in medicine and combating climate change, she has received numerous accolades for her groundbreaking work since 1991. In fact, she was awarded the 2016 Breck Award —the most distinguished recognition in zeolite research— for her studies on the fundamental mechanisms behind zeolite formation.

More recently, in April 2022, the European Research Council rewarded her for her ZEOLIGHT project by pledging its support for her work for several years. Her research is set to shake up the materials science scene, fuel economic growth, drive advancements in natural gas and renewables and make a splash in the environmental and biochemistry arenas. These advancements could contribute to the fight against climate change by paving the way for the energy transition and slashing CO₂ emissions. Other applications are expected in the field of medicine, particularly in speeding up the wound healing process.