About the ISES Fellow Award
The ISES Fellow status can be conferred at any time with presentation at a special Reception, Congress or other suitable event, and represents a lifetime award of the Society. Initially there will be no restriction on the number of people that can be awarded with the status of ISES Fellow in any one year. This may be reviewed in future years. Fellows will have their name and a brief description of their expertise posted on a special section on the ISES website.
The aims of awarding the category of ISES Fellow are:
- To recognise people who have given many years of distinguished service to ISES and have advanced the use of solar and renewable energy through research, education, communication and deployment
- To provide inspiration and mentoring to Young ISES members
- To establish a pool of experienced solar and renewable energy experts to ensure that their knowledge and expertise can benefit ISES in various ways.
Nomination: Nominators shall provide a letter of support containing concrete examples of the nominee’s work, activities, or accomplishments that give evidence of service with distinction. Letters of support shall be send to hq@ises.org
2023 Fellow: Prof. Lars Broman, Sweden
Emeritus Professor Lars Broman has been a driving force in solar energy education and research for over 35 years. A dedicated member of ISES, he has significantly contributed to advancing solar energy knowledge worldwide. In 1980, he established Sweden’s first undergraduate solar energy program at Dalarna University, later founding the Solar Energy Research Center (SERC) in 1984 and the European Solar Engineering School (ESES) in 1999—both of which remain active today.
Broman co-founded the International Association for Solar Energy Education (IASEE) in 1989 and played a key role in integrating it into ISES, forming the ISES Working Group on Education. He also initiated the International Symposium on Renewable Energy Education (ISREE), which continues to foster global collaboration on solar education.
With over 120 publications, extensive mentorship of students, and a history of pioneering research in solar optics and renewable energy education, Broman’s impact is far-reaching. In 2020, ISES recognized him as a Pioneer of Solar Energy Research, and he continues to contribute as a member of the committee developing the ISES Online Solar Energy Museum.
In recognition of his lifelong dedication and profound contributions to solar energy education and research, ISES proudly honors Lars Broman with the ISES Fellows Award 2023.
The award was presented to Prof. Broman during the 2024 EuroSun conference.
2021 Recipients
The 2021 Fellows are:
Steven Meyers, USA
He served on the ISES Board of Directors from 2016 – 2019, during the 2018 – 2019 term he was on the Executive Committee. Steve was the Project Lead for both infographic instalments ISES has developed so far: Dispelling the Myths in 2018 and Solar Thermal Heat for Industry Processes in 2019. He was very engaged to work with ISES headquarters in successfully developing these products which are very useful to ISES to dispel myths about solar energy.
Paulette Middleton, USA
Dr Middleton has been on the ISES Board of Directors since 2010 where she has played many valuable roles both as a member of the Board and the Executive. A non-comprehensive list includes, ISES Secretary, ByLaws reviewer, coordinator of the society’s strategic planning and implementation of new directions, sustainable development interests, membership growth, coordinator among country sections, and educational programs, including ISREE. She was Chair of the Solar and Society theme for the Solar World Congresses 2013, 2015 and 2017 and ISREE Congress 2019 and 2021
Dave Renné as Immediate Past President, USA
Aldo Steinfeld, Switzerland
Prof. Aldo Steinfeld has an excellent track record in engineering research and development of solar energy technologies. He is among the leading scholars in the field of solar thermochemical fuels and the most cited researcher in the world in this emerging field, in particular for his innovative ideas and pioneering research on efficient conversion of concentrated solar energy. Prof. Steinfeld was an ISES Board Director from 2016 – 2018.
2019 Recipients
The 2019 ISES Fellows are the following Past ISES Presidents and the terms they served:
William Beckmann, USA (1986 - 1987)
Doug Lorrimann, Canada (1990 - 1991)
Adolf Götzberger, Germany (1992 - 1993)
Michael Nicklas, USA (1994 - 1995)
Eduardo d O. Fernandes, Portugal (1996 - 1997)
David Mills, Australia (1998 - 1999)
Cesare Silvi, Italy (1999 – 2001)
Anne Grete Hestnes, Norway (2002 - 2003)
Monica Oliphant, Australia (2008 - 2009)
and
Renate Böer, USA
2017 Recipient
Torben Esbensen is Director at Esbensen Consulting Engineers A/S since 1979, a company working internationally in the field of solar energy and energy design of buildings. He is current the Treasurer of ISES since 2007, was ISES President 2006-2007 and was the President of ISES-Europe 1997-99. In the period 2012-2013 he was also the ISES Secretary. Torben was Director of the ISES Board in the period 1990-96 representing the four Scandinavian countries and again from 1998 representing the small sections of ISES. Since 2003 Torben has represented the associated sections of Denmark and Finland. He was Organizing Chairman of the ISES Solar World Congress 2007 in Beijing, China, of the ISES- Europe Congress EuroSun 2000 Copenhagen, and he was the International Chairman of the ISES Solar World Congress 2003 in Gøteborg, Sweden and of ISES SWC 2011 in Kassel, Germany. Torben Esbensen started his career in solar in 1973 as employed at the Technical University of Denmark. In 1979 he left the University trying to implement the research result into the practical design of building.
2015 Recipients
The first four Fellows were chosen in 2015 with the title given to those respected ISES members who previously held the ISES Honorary Director title:
- Dr Wolfgang Palz
- Professor Yogi Goswami
- Emeritus Professor Dr Dieter Holm
- Mr Peter Rae AO