Inaugural Lecture: Professor Jose Gonzalez-Rodriguez

'You know that we are living in a material world…'

Lecture Overview:

Our modern society depends on materials for its development. From the metals in electronic devices to the chemicals that fuel our industries, materials underpin the technologies, industries, and systems that shape everyday life. Yet the same materials that support progress can also create challenges: contamination, resource scarcity, and the need for their reliable detection and tracking through the environment. Central to the discussion is the development of selective chemical approaches that allow chemists to identify and isolate specific substances within complex mixtures. Advances in chemical sensing, applied materials and separation science have made it possible to detect extremely small quantities of substances and to extract valuable components from challenging matrices such as environmental samples, industrial residues, or forensic materials. In forensic science, chemical signatures can help interpret evidence, identify materials, and support investigative intelligence. Analytical techniques and the use of machine learning algorithms provide insight into the composition and origin of substances, contributing to a deeper understanding of events and materials encountered in forensic investigations. In environmental science, analytical chemistry plays a key role in identifying contamination and developing methods to remove or recover harmful compounds. Selective extraction technologies offer new ways to target specific pollutants and improve environmental monitoring and remediation. Another growing area is the recovery of critical raw materials. As demand for strategic elements increases, analytical chemistry is helping to design processes that recover valuable materials from waste streams and secondary resources. By applying selective chemical technologies, it becomes possible to separate and reuse materials that would otherwise be lost. This lecture explores how analytical chemistry helps us understand, detect, and manage the materials that define the modern world. It focuses on the role of chemical analysis not simply as a measurement tool, but as a means of developing practical solutions to complex real-world problems.

Biography

José González-Rodríguez graduated as a Chemist in 1995 at the University of Cordoba (Spain), and in 1998, he also graduated as a Biochemist in the same University. In 2000, he obtained his Master's degree in Environmental Control in Industry from the Polytechnic University of Madrid (Spain). In 2003, he completed his PhD in automation of analytical processes in a winery where he later became Technical Manager. The call back to academia was strong, and in 2004, he joined the University of Southampton and NERC in the National Oceanography Centre, where he developed a two-year post-doc in atmospheric chemistry. In 2006, he joined the University of Lincoln as a lecturer in Analytical Chemistry, building a career that combines analytical science with applied problem-solving across forensic, environmental, and security contexts. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and a Member of the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences.

His research centres on chemical sensing, applied materials, advanced separation techniques, and spectroscopy, with a strong emphasis on translating analytical innovation into practical tools. His work has been applied to areas such as forensic intelligence, environmental contamination, critical raw materials recovery, and security-related areas.

Beyond academia, Jose has a strong record of knowledge exchange and impact. He is the founder and CEO of Environmental Selective Extractions, a spin-out venture of the University of Lincoln focused on applying selective chemical technologies to environmental and industrial challenges. This work reflects his long-standing commitment to ensuring that analytical chemistry delivers benefits beyond the laboratory, particularly in areas linked to sustainability and environmental protection. He is currently the Deputy Director of Research for Knowledge Exchange in the College of Health and Science.

All personal information processed by the University of Lincoln is stored securely and processed in accordance with the UK data protection legislation. For further information please read our Privacy Notice: https://lias.lincoln.ac.uk/privacy-notice/

On occasion, there may also be a photographer or videographer in attendance at events, taking pictures for use within University of Lincoln marketing materials, including the LIAS website (lias.lincoln.ac.uk). Please make the photographer aware if you would not like your image to be used.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Lincoln Institute for Advanced Studies