Prof. Pitsch has received the inaugural André Jaumotte Chair of the Royal Belgian Academy of Sciences for the years 2021-2022. The André Jaumotte Chair is endowed with a prize awarded to an internationally renowned scientist living outside of Belgium, and who is active in the field of engineering sciences. As part of the award, Prof. Pitsch will give four lectures at the Academy in Brussels and spend time in Brussels and other parts of Belgium to strengthen collaborations with Belgian scientific teams. Prof. Pitsch will be integrated into the Department of Aero-Thermo-Mechanics of the École Polytechnique de l'ULB and will work in collaboration with Professor Alessandro Parente. Baron André Jaumotte (1919-2016) was Rector of the Free University of Brussels and Director of the Royal Academy of Belgium. Throughout his career, he has actively supported young researchers in the development of new ideas and technologies and promoted multidisciplinarity.

Two of the papers at the 38th Combustion Symposium, which are co-authored by researchers from ITV, received Distinguished Paper awards. We congratulate all authors of these papers and authors of all distinguished papers for this recognition.


1. The effect of pressure on the hydrodynamic stability limit of premixed flames by A. Attili, R. Lamioni, L. Berger, K. Kleinheinz, P.E. Lapenna, H. Pitsch, F. Creta

2. On the combined effect of internal and external intermittency in turbulent non-premixed jet flames by M. Gauding, M. Bode, D. Denker, Y. Brahami, L. Danaila, E. Varea

The award is presented annually to one individual for sustained, meritorious accomplishment in the arts, sciences, and technology of air breathing propulsion systems. The citation reads “For seminal contributions to the fundamental understanding, theory, and computational modeling of turbulent combustion” and the award will be presented on Aug. 26 at the 2020 AIAA Propulsion and Energy Forum in New Orleans, USA.

Prof. Alberto Cuoci, from Politecnico di Milano (Italy), has been awarded the Humboldt Research Fellowship for Experienced Researcher to join the research group of Prof. Heinz Pitsch at ITV for a period of 18 months. The research project will focus on the development of advanced mathematical models, based on the coupling of detailed chemistry and machine learning algorithms, for describing the formation, evolution and morphology of carbonaceous particles from combustion processes.

This fellowship is awarded biennially to 6 young researchers in recognition of their high-quality research in combustion. Dr. Ren will receive this award at the 38th International Symposium on Combustion.
Dr. Ren thanks Prof. Pitsch for the nomination as well as the support from the entire group.

Our institute mourns the loss of Günter Paczko, who died suddenly on April 1st, 2019, and for all of us unexpectedly, at the age of 59. Mr. Paczko had been closely connected to our institute since the early 90s and until a few days ago he worked enthusiastically on scientific issues. We were therefore deeply dismayed to hear of the news of his far too early death. With Mr. Paczko, we lose an always helpful, friendly and dutiful colleague who was valued by everyone for his high level of competence and reliability. Our deep sympathy and solidarity go to his relatives. We will always remember Mr. Paczko well.