The medal was established by the Connecticut Global Fuel Cell Center in conjunction with its first annual international conference on fuel cell development and deployment. The medal honors the memory and work of the late British scientist F.T. (Tom) Bacon, an early pioneer in the practical applications of fuel cell technology.

"Dr. Maru's accomplishments continue to be recognized by his peers in the worldwide fuel cell community and this award is another in a long list of richly deserved honors," stated Jerry D. Leitman, chairman and chief executive officer of FuelCell Energy. "The customers, employees, and shareholders of FuelCell Energy benefit from Hans' technological leadership in bringing fuel cells to the point where they are no longer a mere laboratory curiosity or found only in space ships, but are available for commercial sale today."

Maru joined FuelCell Energy in 1977 and previously held the position of senior vice president. Prior to that, he spent eight years at the Gas Technology Institute (GTI) based in Illinois, conducting research in the fields of fuel cells, electrolyzers, thermal energy storage, and hydrogen energy. He received a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1975.

Publication date: 03/22/2004