Anders Nilsson (scientist)

Anders Nilsson (born May 3, 1956) is a scientist who works in the field of chemical physics at Stockholm University.^[1] He is best known for his studies of the structure and dynamics of water with the goal of understanding the origin of the unusual physical properties that make this liquid entirely unique on Earth.^[2][3][4] His other research interests include studying chemical reactions as they occur in real time and energy transformations that have implications for future energy use.^[5]

Nilsson received his M.Sc. (1980) in Chemical Engineering from Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm and his PhD in the laboratory created by the Nobel Laureate Kai Siegbahn in Uppsala University in 1989 and was conferred with the Ångström Award^[1] for Outstanding PhD thesis. He later went to Stanford University in the US and became an associate professor in 2000 and later a professor in 2008 in the field of Photon science.^[6][1] He later returned to Sweden as a professor in Chemical Physics at Stockholm University in 2014. He became an Honorary Doctor in 2015 at Denmark Technical University.^[7]

Nilsson has authored more than 300 papers in peer-reviewed journals.^[8][9] His research has involved extensive use of powerful X-ray sources such as synchrotrons and x-ray free electron laser (XFEL) sources. His research interests include X-ray laser spectroscopy and scattering, chemical bonding and reactions on surfaces, ultrafast heterogeneous catalysis, electrocatalysis in fuel cells, photocatalysis for converting sunlight to fuels, and structure of water and aqueous solutions.^[10][11]

Nilsson had a spiritual opening in 1993 and has since then pursued a strong interest in spirituality.^[12] He is not affiliated to any spiritual school or tradition, nor has he studied under any guru, but instead followed his inner voice and intuition to lead him. He has published his spiritual views in the book The Gentle Way of the Heart^[13] in 2014 which became a finalist in the US Best Book awards and won a silver medal in the Benjamin Franklin awards^[14]

• Nilsson, Anders; Pettersson, Lars; Nørskov, Jens K. (2008). Chemical Bonding at Surfaces and Interfaces. Elsevier Science. ISBN 9780444528377.
• Nilsson, Anders (2014). The Gentle Way of the Heart. Nordic Light Books. ISBN 978-0-9892746-0-9.