Dr María Escribano Escudero, former PhD student of the Institute under the tutelage of Dr Angel Cuesta, has been recognized with one of the European Young Chemists Awards 2016. This prize honors and encourages younger chemists whose current research displays a high level of excellence and distinction. It seeks to recognize and reward younger chemists of exceptional ability who show promise for substantial future achievements in chemistry-related research fields. Dr Escudero Escribano presented eight polycrystalline Pt–lanthanide and Pt–alkaline-earth oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysts for use in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells.