Susan Bernal
{{Short description|Colombian materials scientist}}
{{family name hatnote|Bernal|López|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name = Susan Bernal
| image = Susan A Bernal Lopez.jpg
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1982}}
| birth_place = Bogotá, Colombia
| workplaces = University of Sheffield
University of Melbourne
University of Aarhus
University of Leeds
University of Bath
| alma_mater = University of Valle
}}
Susan Andrea Bernal López (born 1982) is a Colombian materials scientist who is Professor of Sustainable Construction Materials at the University of Bath. Her research considers design, development and characterisation of novel cements and concretes. She was awarded the 2020 Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining Rosenhain Medal and Prize.
Early life and education
Bernal was born in Bogotá, Colombia. She was an undergraduate and postgraduate student at the University of Valle, where she worked on alkali-activated cements (so-called geopolymers). Specifically, her doctoral research considered the carbonation of concretes that are based on alkaline activated slag. She worked with Ruby Mejía de Gutiérrez, a Professor of Materials Science,{{Cite web|title=Estudiante del Doctorado en Ingeniería obtiene beca para hacer estudios Posdoctorales en Dinamarca|url=http://ingenieriainforma.blogspot.com/2009/06/la-estudiante-del-programa-de-doctorado.html|access-date=2021-10-15|website=Estudiante del Doctorado en Ingeniería obtiene beca para hacer estudios Posdoctorales en Dinamarca}} on a number of papers and they registered a patent together.{{Cite web|title=Grupo Investigación Materiales Compuestos|url=http://investigaciongmc.univalle.edu.co/Ruby_Mejia.html|access-date=2021-10-27|website=investigaciongmc.univalle.edu.co}} During her doctorate she carried out two internships, one supported by the United States Department of Energy to work at the Argonne National Laboratory, and one at the University of Melbourne.
Research and career
After graduating, Bernal moved to Aarhus University, where she spent a year as a postdoctoral fellow at the iNANO Instrument Center of the University of Aarhus (INANO).{{Cite web|last=Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences|title=Prof. Susan A Bernal {{!}} School of Civil Engineering {{!}} University of Leeds|url=https://eps.leeds.ac.uk/civil-engineering/staff/1502/prof-susan-a-bernal|access-date=2021-10-25|website=eps.leeds.ac.uk|language=en}}
In 2010, Bernal moved to the University of Melbourne, where she continued to work on geopolymers. Bernal was appointed as research fellow at the University of Sheffield in 2012, where she investigated alternatives to conventional cements and concretes.{{Cite web|last=Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences|title=Civil engineering materials Professor wins prize for research into greener concrete|url=https://eps.leeds.ac.uk/civil-engineering/news/article/5633/civil-engineering-materials-professor-wins-prize-for-research-into-greener-concrete?fbclid=IwAR3zKo1ZECBxbcBum2Qt8rKOXCrSXOXVZxfJN0oczGkijBa-F8uSwwpTJhE|access-date=2021-10-15|website=eps.leeds.ac.uk|date=24 April 2020 |language=en}} Concrete is one of the world's most popular building materials, and contributes to five{{Cite news|date=2016-08-25|title=Cracks in the surface|newspaper=The Economist|url=https://www.economist.com/business/2016/08/25/cracks-in-the-surface|access-date=2021-10-17|issn=0013-0613}} to eight percent of global carbon dioxide emissions.J.G.J. Olivier, G. Janssens-Maenhout, J.A.H.W. Peters, [https://www.pbl.nl/sites/default/files/downloads/pbl-2020-trends-in-global-co2-and-total-greenhouse-gas-emissions-2019-report_4068.pdfTrends in global CO2 emissions]; 2012 Report, J.R.C. Ispra, The Hague, Netherlands, 2012 She was made a lecturer in 2015.
In 2018, Bernal moved to the University of Leeds, where she continued to develop novel cements and concretes that are more sustainable and durable. In particular, she made use of natural clays and industrial waste. She joined the University of Leeds as an academic fellow and she became a professor there in 2019. In 2024 she relocated to the University of Bath, as a Professor in the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering.{{Cite web|last=University of Bath|title=Profiles - Susan Bernal Lopez|url=https://researchportal.bath.ac.uk/en/persons/susan-bernal-lopez|access-date=2024-11-03|website=bath.ac.uk|language=en}} Since the start of 2025, Bernal has been a part of numerous research papers, writing alongside some of her old colleagues from th University of Leeds. She took part in a paper called "Structural Alterations in Alkali-Sulfate-activated Slag Cement Pastes Induced by Natural and Accelerated Carbonation".{{Cite journal |last1=Yue |first1=Zengliang |last2=Dhandapani |first2=Yuvaraj |last3=Bernal |first3=Susan A. |date=2025-01-01 |title=Structural alterations in alkali-sulfate-activated slag cement pastes induced by natural and accelerated carbonation |journal=Cement and Concrete Research |volume=187 |pages=107713 |doi=10.1016/j.cemconres.2024.107713 |issn=0008-8846|doi-access=free }} This paper was published by Science Direct in their January 2025 issue, and was written alongside [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Zengliang-Yue-2 Zengliang Yue] and [https://eps.leeds.ac.uk/faculty-engineering-physical-sciences/staff/8900/dr-yuvaraj-dhandapani Yuvaraj Dhandapani], who were also employed at the University of Leeds.
Awards and recognitions
- 2005 Colombian Innovation Agency (COLCIENCIAS) Scholarship{{Cite web|last=Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences|title=Prof. Susan A Bernal {{!}} School of Civil Engineering {{!}} University of Leeds|url=https://eps.leeds.ac.uk/civil-engineering/staff/1502/prof-susan-a-bernal|access-date=2021-10-15|website=eps.leeds.ac.uk|language=en}}
- 2008 Walter Mangold Trust Fund scholarship
- 2016 University of Valle Distinguished Graduate Award
- 2016 RILEM (Réunion Internationale des Laboratoires et Experts des Matériaux, systèmes de construction et ouvrages) Gustavo Colonnetti medal{{Cite web|last=RILEM|title=RILEM – Honors & Awards|url=https://www.rilem.net/gene/main.php?base=500181|access-date=2021-10-15|website=www.rilem.net|language=fr}}
- 2019 Institution of Civil Engineers Advances in Cement Research Prize{{Cite web|title=2019 award winners I ICE Publishing News|url=https://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/page/authors/awards-2019|access-date=2021-10-15|website=ICE Virtual Library|language=en}}
- 2020 IOM3 Rosenhain Medal and Prize{{Cite web|last=IOM3|title=Award winners 2020|url=https://www.iom3.org/events-awards/awards/awards-archive/iom3-awards-winners.html|access-date=2021-10-15|website=www.iom3.org}}
- 2021 Materials Research Society Kavli Early Career Lectureship in Materials Science{{Cite web|title=2021 Kavli Early Career Lectureship in Materials Science|url=https://materials.typepad.com/mrs_meeting_scene/2021/12/2021-kavli-early-career-lectureship-in-materials-science.html|access-date=2022-10-06|website=materials.typepad.com|language=en}}
- 2022 RILEM Robert L'Hermite Medal{{Cite web|last=RILEM|title=2022 L'Hermite RILEM Medallist|url=https://www.rilem.net/news/513|access-date=2022-10-06|website=www.rilem.net|language=en}}
- 2024 RILEM Fellow{{Cite web|last=RILEM|title=2024 RILEM Honorary Members and Fellows|url=https://www.rilem.net/news/2024-rilem-honorary-members-and-fellows-669|access-date=2024-11-03|website=www.rilem.net|language=en}}
Selected publications
- {{Cite Q|Q61848737}}
- {{Cite Q|Q61848742}}
- {{Cite Q|Q61848767}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bernal, Susan}}
Category:21st-century Colombian scientists
Category:21st-century Colombian women scientists
Category:University of Valle alumni