Ayfer Veziroglu, widow of the esteemed Turhan Nejat Veziroglu, has donated $250,000 to the University of Miami College of Engineering. The gift will establish the Dr. T. Nejat Veziroglu Endowed Fellowship for Ph.D. students in mechanical and aerospace engineering who focus on hydrogen energy and related fields, honoring Veziroglu’s legacy and pioneering research.
Often referred to as “the father of Hydrogen,” T. Nejat Veziroglu was a visionary in hydrogen energy research. His groundbreaking work and commitment left a lasting impact on the University of Miami and the global energy community.
Veziroglu chaired the University’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering during the 1970s and served as associate dean for research. He founded the Clean Energy Research Institute and organized the Hydrogen Economy Miami Energy (THEME) Conference in 1974, which drew 750 participants from 80 countries. It was during that event that he introduced the concept of a hydrogen economy.
In response to growing international interest, the International Association for Hydrogen Energy (IAHE) was founded later that year. IAHE has since become a leading platform for collaboration and exchange in the field, hosting global conferences such as the biennial World Hydrogen Energy Conference and World Hydrogen Technology Convention. The organization marked its 50th anniversary in 2024 and will hold its next convention in Dublin, Ireland, in 2025.
The association's founding members—including Cesare Marchetti, John O'M. Bockris, Tokio Ohta, William D. Van Vorst, and others—became known as the “Hydrogen Romantics,” for their early dedication to promoting hydrogen as a viable alternative energy source.
Recognizing a gap in scientific publishing on the topic, Veziroglu also established the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy in 1976. With initial support from publisher Robert Maxwell of Pergamon Press, the journal began with four issues per year and quickly expanded. It provided a critical venue for researchers worldwide to share findings and stay connected—particularly in the years before the internet. The journal has since partnered with Elsevier and continues to serve as a leading publication in the field.
Ayfer Veziroglu, who has worked with IAHE since 2002, assumed the role of president of the association in 2024. In her new role, she aims to continue building on her husband’s legacy and advocate for hydrogen as a clean and unifying energy solution.
“Let hydrogen be our anthem—a bridge to economic harmony and peace,” she said.
Veziroglu's contributions to hydrogen energy extended from research and policy advocacy to international collaboration. He authored more than 300 scientific papers and helped set the foundation for hydrogen’s role in clean energy development, focusing on its production, storage and practical applications.
“Veziroglu laid the foundation for hydrogen research at a time when few were thinking about alternative energy,” said Qingda Yang, chair of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. “This fellowship ensures that his spirit of innovation will live on in the work of our students, who are actively pursuing solutions to one of the world’s greatest challenges.”
Hydrogen, the most abundant element in the universe, is increasingly viewed as a promising energy carrier in the global transition to sustainable power. The fellowship aims to empower graduate students whose research supports that shift.
The Dr. T. Nejat Veziroglu Endowed Fellowship will support the next generation of hydrogen researchers by providing financial support to exceptional Ph.D. students. The fellowship aligns with Veziroglu’s vision of a sustainable energy future and is expected to inspire further support for hydrogen research at the university.
“This gift honors a scientific trailblazer and underscores the University of Miami’s leadership in the future of energy research,” said Pratim Biswas, dean of the College of Engineering. “By empowering future researchers, this fellowship helps drive discovery and innovation in the pursuit of a more sustainable future.”
