Biography
Born in the Netherlands, Theo van de Ven studied at the University of Utrecht and earned a Doctorandus degree in Physical and Colloidal Chemistry, with a minor in Theoretical Physics. He moved to Montreal, Canada, to continue his graduate studies at McGill University. After a postdoctoral position in Sydney, Australia, he returned to Montreal to join the Pulp and Paper Research Institute of Canada, with an honorary cross appointment at McGill’s Chemistry Department, later converted to a full Professorship. He has taken sabbatical leaves in Bristol (UK), Leiden and Delft (The Netherlands). He has given numerous keynote and plenary lectures all over the world. He has published 477 scientific publications, has edited 4 books, holds 6 patents, and has written two books: “Colloidal Hydrodynamics” and “Musings of a Colloid Chemist”. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, winner of the ACS (American Chemical Society) Award in Colloid and Surface Science, the SCI (Society of Chemical Industry) Kalev Pugi Award, and is a recipient of the John S. Bates Memorial Gold Medal, in recognition of his great contributions to pulp and paper technology. His present interests are in cellulose-based renewable materials.