Dr Isaac Heertje Distinguished Scientist Awardee
Jose M. Aguilera, The Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Chile
JOSE M. AGUILERA is an Emeritus Professor of Chemical and Food Engineering at the P. Universidad Católica de Chile. He holds an MSc degree from MIT, and a PhD in food science from Cornell University. His research has focused on the role of microstructure in foods, including structure-property relationships, modeling of microstructural changes during food processing, food materials science, rational food design, and recently, gastronomic engineering. He is the co-author of the book Microstructural Principles of Food Processing and Engineering (1990, 1999). Prof. Aguilera is a foreign member of the National Academy of Engineering (USA), and recipient of the GCHERA World Agriculture Prize (2019), and the 2020 Nicolas Appert Award of IFT.
Food Structure and Functionality Symposium Young Scientist Award
Dr. Isaac Heertje was a world-leading food structure expert employed for many years at Unilever in the Netherlands. To this day, his research achievements constitute some of the highest quality research performed in this field.
During its inaugural meeting in the Netherlands in 2014, the Food Structure and Functionality Forum established Dr Isaac Heertje Distinguished Scientist Award to recognise a high-level scientist from industry, government or academia that has made a significant contribution to the field of food structure and functionality. We are continuing this burgeoning tradition for 2024.
Dr. Isaac Heertje, renowned Food (Structure – Functionality) scientist, passed away at the age of 88.
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Dr. Isaac Heertje, an esteemed Food (Structure and Functionality) Scientist, on April 1, 2024, at the age of 88, in The Hague, The Netherlands.
Dr. Heertje was one of the pioneers and world-leading experts in the field of Food Structure and Functionality, known and appreciated for his many high quality contributions to the field.
Born on September 9, 1935, in Arnhem, The Netherlands, Dr. Heertje earned his Ph.D. in 1963 on “Fast Neutron Activation Detectors” from the University of Amsterdam. Three years later he joined the Unilever research laboratory in Vlaardingen, in The Netherlands. On 23 October, 1991 he was promoted to Senior Scientist by the then head of Unilever Research, Dr. Ashok Ganguly.
From 1982 to 1994 he was European editor of the scientific journal "Food Microstructure", the title of which was changed to "Food Structure" at his suggestion.
He retired in October 1996.
During the inaugural meeting of the Food Structure and Functionality Symposia in the Netherlands in 2014, at which Dr. Heertje and his wife were present, the Food Structure and Functionality Forum established the “Dr. Isaac Heertje Distinguished Scientist Award ”.
Dr. Isaac Heertje will be deeply missed by his family, friends, colleagues, and the entire scientific community. His remarkable work and passion for Food Structure and Functionality have left an indelible mark on the world.