Perceive chemistry as if it were magic. His way of responding to the unknowns that climate change brings with it is through the sensitivity he feels for his work. Yarivith González (Barquisimeto, Venezuela, 36 years old), always with her eyes set on environmental conservation, has patented methods for recovery of valuable metals from lithium ion batteries and electronic waste. For González, electromobility technology is still so premature that the world has time to avoid the mistakes it has made with plastic. The young chemist has been awarded the Princess of Girona International Foundation award in the field of research, but also for his work in promoting lEnvironmental education in schools in rural areas of Latin America.
Ask. What does winning this award mean to you?
Answer. I still don’t believe it. It is an opportunity to invite young people to work in science. When a job is done with love and out of pure vocation, recognition ends up coming. Although I would like to clarify that the Princess of Girona Foundation has valued the work of the entire team at the Extractive Metallurgy Laboratory for which I work in Argentina.
P. What does it mean for Latin America to advance in the fight against climate change?
R. From environmentalist thinking, this work is crucial for the continent. In Latin America we do not have as large a fleet of electric cars as in Europe. Therefore, previously developing a technology like this on our soil will allow Latin American countries to provide an early response to the negative effects of the accumulation of valuable metal waste and non-renewable. We don’t want to make the same mistakes as with plastic.
P. His project transcends the purely technical and reaches the social.
R. We focus a lot on environmental education in rural areas, mainly. When you ask young people in schools and institutes “what is science?”, they imagine a complexity of lab coats and incomprehensible concepts. An important achievement of the project is that we began to diagnose the perception that youth have of scientific research. It is essential that they see science as something applicable in their daily lives.
P. Can you beat the throwaway society?
R. Although the rRealities in Latin America and Europe are very differentI think from a global perspective we are moving forward rapidly. Not only in results, but in the way of seeing things. There is a homogenization of thought because scientific and technological research is increasingly oriented towards the defense of the environment. When I ask a master’s student about his future and he tells me his need to train in sustainable development, it fills me with satisfaction. 50 years ago this was unthinkable.
P. Sales of electric cars have fallen in the European Union by more than 40%. Is skepticism growing regarding this technology?
R. It is likely, yes, but changing the paradigm will always be complicated. When a New technology suddenly bursts into the market, It will always bring with it a conflict socially, politically and economically. The change must be global and occur gradually. If there is a problem, as is the case with emissions derived from fossil fuels, alternatives must be studied and agreed to offer solutions.
P. A large amount of water is required to extract valuable metals. How does this affect a region as arid as the so-called “lithium triangle” made up of Chile, Argentina and Bolivia?
R. This project was created precisely so that the life cycle of a lithium battery do not end with its extraction and become waste. When the useful life of the battery ends, we put it through a discharge process and then completely dismantle it. Finally, we implement the physicochemical processes that we have patented in the laboratory, such as carboreduction to recover lithium and cobalt.
P. For you, chemistry is magic.
R. I do not intend to romanticize my work, but I perceive chemistry as a transformative discipline. It is a constant search for knowledge and a way to obtain answers to certain problems. The fact that I have developed in the arts has allowed me to combine and see my work as something poetic. Imagine personalities like Marie Curie and see that, like her, you can capture other minds with different visions.
P. Venezuela is going through a major economic, social and political crisis. What message do you send to young researchers in your homeland?
R. May they never stop pursuing their dreams and never give up their critical spirit. For me, triumph is finding an answer to your own doubts. Despite the crisis in Venezuela, we must not abandon training and always question everything.
