A major problem in chemistry and biology is to understand how large molecules react to light. This is important for instance to understand how plants convert carbondioxide into usable energy with the help of sunlight, or to design more efficient and cheaper solar cells. Theoretical simulations, where chemical processes are simulated with computers, replacing costly and time-intensive experiments in labs, can help unravelling the underlying mechanisms. The currently known simulation techniques are either cheap but limited in their accuracy, or accurate but costly.
Partitioning technique
The currently available methods to perform such simulations provide only an approximate picture of these complex processes. An approximate picture often sufficies to answer many research questions, but in some cases, more exact results are needed. These exact results can only be obtained with simulations which are time-consuming and therefore expensive. Förster suggests to improve those methods with a partitioning technique: In a first step, the important part of the problem for which exact results are needed are identified. Then, a simulation is performed to give an approximate picture of the remaining part and only then the important part is described exactly.
Veni
The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) has awarded Arno Förster a Veni grant, allowing him to further develop his research over the next three years. The NWO Talent Programme gives researchers the freedom to conduct their research driven by creativity and passion. They receive up to 320,000 euros. The programme encourages innovation and curiosity. Free research contributes to and prepares us for the society of tomorrow. Therefore, NWO focuses on a diversity of scientists, domains, and backgrounds. Veni, together with the Vidi and Vici grants, is part of the Talent Programme.
NWO selects researchers based on the scientific quality and innovative nature of the research proposal, the scientific and/or societal impact of the proposed project, and the quality of the researcher.