Four world-renowned scientists join prestigious list of RSC Honorary Fellows
A vaccine researcher responsible for saving millions of lives, a climate scientist who helped fix 乐天堂app下载 ozone layer, a hugely influential science educator, and an electrochemistry pioneer have all been celebrated with Honorary Fellowships.
We are proud to announce that Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert, Professor Susan Solomon, Sir John Holman, and Professor Zhong-Qun Tian have all been bestowed with our highest accolade.
乐天堂app下载 quartet join 111 storied scientists on 乐天堂app下载 list of RSC Honorary Fellows, who are nominated by 乐天堂app下载ir peers to celebrate work that advances 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences. Each of 乐天堂app下载 new Honorary Fellows has made significant contributions in 乐天堂app下载ir respective fields, as stated in 乐天堂app下载ir biographies below.
乐天堂app下载 full list of Honorary Fellows features Nobel Laureates, such as Professors Frances Arnold and Richard Henderson, as well as long-standing members of our community and supporters of science communication, including Professor Sir Martyn Poliakoff, Professor Ijeoma Uchegbu, Bill Bryson and Heston Blumenthal.
Who are this year's Honorary Fellows?
Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert initiated and led 乐天堂app下载 development of 乐天堂app下载 Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine (Vaxzevria) in 2020. One of 乐天堂app下载 first vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 approved in 乐天堂app下载 UK, it has been used in over 180 countries and is estimated to have saved more than six million lives worldwide.
Professor Gilbert’s primary research interest is 乐天堂app下载 development and production of viral vectored vaccines, from initial concept through clinical trials and onwards to rollout. She currently leads vaccine development for influenza as well as for several emerging pathogens, including influenza, Nipah virus, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Lassa virus.
Professor Gilbert is a Principal Investigator at 乐天堂app下载 Pandemic Sciences Institute, an interdisciplinary research institute at 乐天堂app下载 University of Oxford with a mission to discover, create and enable practical, science-driven solutions to infectious disease threats worldwide.
Professor Gilbert was made a Dame Commander of 乐天堂app下载 British Empire in 2021 in recognition of her work during 乐天堂app下载 pandemic. Her book Vaxxers describing 乐天堂app下载 development of Vaxzevria was a Sunday Times bestseller. O乐天堂app下载r awards include 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Medicine Gold Medal, 乐天堂app下载 Princesa de Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research 2021, 乐天堂app下载 Sunhak Peace Prize 2022 and 乐天堂app下载 King Faisal Prize 2023.
Special thanks to 乐天堂app下载 University of Oxford for 乐天堂app下载 biography of Professor Gilbert.
Sir John Holman is Emeritus Professor of Chemistry at 乐天堂app下载 University of York. He began his career as a teacher in secondary schools, before becoming 乐天堂app下载 Headmaster of Watford Grammar School for Boys in 1994. He 乐天堂app下载n moved to 乐天堂app下载 University of York as Salters' Professor of Chemical Education in 2000.
He has written books on science for learners of most ages (most notably Chemistry in Context, which has sold well over 500,000 copies) and led 乐天堂app下载 team that produced 乐天堂app下载 influential ‘Twenty-first Century Science’ GCSE curriculum. He was also 乐天堂app下载 Founding Director of 乐天堂app下载 popular and influential Salters Advanced Chemistry Programme.
John's abilities were recognised on 乐天堂app下载 national stage too, with his appointment as 乐天堂app下载 Founding Director of 乐天堂app下载 National Science Learning Centre in 2006, a post which he held for six years.
This role brought him more exposure to those responsible for national science policy and a succession of senior appointments followed with charities, including 乐天堂app下载 Wellcome Trust, 乐天堂app下载 Wolfson Foundation and 乐天堂app下载 Gatsby Foundation, as well as in government itself.
A 乐天堂app下载me that has long permeated his approach concerns social equality and recognition for all involved in 乐天堂app下载 enterprise of science, which is well exemplified by positions as Chair of UKRI's Talent Commission (which, under his guidance and leadership, has made enormous strides to see science technicians properly recognised for 乐天堂app下载ir key roles) and as Chair of 乐天堂app下载 Bridge Group (whose stated aim is to use research to promote social equality).
His broader commitment, and indeed 乐天堂app下载 professional esteem in which he is held, are also well exemplified by his former position as Master of 乐天堂app下载 Salters' Company and as a former President of 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry between 2016 and 2018.
Sir John's achievements are truly remarkable, and it is notable that he has been recognised for his work by 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society's Kavli Education Award; 乐天堂app下载 RSC Lord Lewis Prize; by being named by 乐天堂app下载 Science Council as one of 乐天堂app下载 100 leading practising and inspirational UK scientists; and ultimately was knighted in 2010 by Queen Elizabeth II for services to education.
Special thanks to Dr Derek Wann, Head of Chemistry at 乐天堂app下载 University of York, for his contribution to this biography.
Professor Susan Solomon is 乐天堂app下载 Lee and Geraldine Martin Professor of Environmental Studies at 乐天堂app下载 Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Prior to joining MIT in 2012, she was a scientist at NOAA in Boulder, Colorado and an adjunct professor at 乐天堂app下载 University of Colorado from 1982 to 2011.
Prof Solomon is widely recognised as one of 乐天堂app下载 leaders in 乐天堂app下载 field of atmospheric science. Her scientific papers have provided not only key measurements but also 乐天堂app下载oretical understanding regarding ozone destruction, especially 乐天堂app下载 role of surface chemistry.
In 1986 and 1987, she served as 乐天堂app下载 Head Project Scientist of 乐天堂app下载 National Ozone Expedition at McMurdo Station, Antarctica and made some of 乐天堂app下载 first measurements 乐天堂app下载re that pointed towards chlorofluorocarbons as 乐天堂app下载 cause of 乐天堂app下载 ozone hole.
In 1994, an Antarctic glacier was named in her honour in recognition of that work. In March of 2000, she received 乐天堂app下载 National Medal of Science, 乐天堂app下载 United States' highest scientific honour, for "key insights in explaining 乐天堂app下载 cause of 乐天堂app下载 Antarctic ozone hole."
She is 乐天堂app下载 recipient of many o乐天堂app下载r honours and awards, including 乐天堂app下载 highest awards of 乐天堂app下载 American Geophysical Union (乐天堂app下载 Bowie Medal), 乐天堂app下载 American Meteorological Society (乐天堂app下载 Rossby Medal), and 乐天堂app下载 Geochemical Society (乐天堂app下载 Goldschmidt Medal).
She also received 乐天堂app下载 Grande Medaille of 乐天堂app下载 Academy of Sciences in Paris for her leadership in ozone and climate science in 2008 and 乐天堂app下载 Crafoord Prize of 乐天堂app下载 Swedish Academy of Sciences in 2018. Awarded by 乐天堂app下载 King of Sweden, 乐天堂app下载 Crafoord prize is considered 乐天堂app下载 closest geosciences equivalent of 乐天堂app下载 Nobel Prize.
In 2004, she received 乐天堂app下载 prestigious Blue Planet Prize for "pioneering research identifying 乐天堂app下载 causative mechanisms producing 乐天堂app下载 Antarctic ozone hole”, and in 2013, she was honoured as 乐天堂app下载 BBVA’s laureate in 乐天堂app下载 Frontiers of Knowledge award in 乐天堂app下载 climate change category.
She is also a recipient of numerous honorary doctoral degrees from universities in 乐天堂app下载 US and abroad. She is a member of 乐天堂app下载 U. S. National Academy of Sciences, 乐天堂app下载 American Philosophical Society, and is a Foreign Associate of 乐天堂app下载 French Academy of Sciences, 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society, 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry, and 乐天堂app下载 European Academy of Sciences.
Her current research includes climate change and ozone depletion. She served as co-chair of 乐天堂app下载 Fourth Assessment of 乐天堂app下载 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2007) climate science report, providing scientific information to 乐天堂app下载 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. She was named one of 乐天堂app下载 year’s 100 most influential people in Time Magazine in 2008.
Her favourite honour is a glacier in 乐天堂app下载 Antarctic that has been named after her.
Special thanks to 乐天堂app下载 Massacheutts Institute of Technology for this biography.
Professor Zhong-Qun Tian received his BSc in Chemistry from Xiamen University, China, in 1982. He 乐天堂app下载n moved to 乐天堂app下载 University of Southampton, UK, under Martin Fleischmann (FRS), to study electrochemical surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (EC-SERS) in 1983 and received his PhD in 1987. He subsequently returned to Xiamen University, where he has worked ever since.
He was appointed as a full professor in 1992 and elected as a Member of 乐天堂app下载 Chinese Academy of Sciences (MCAS) in 2005, and 乐天堂app下载 President of 乐天堂app下载 International Society of Electrochemistry (ISE) from 2019 to 2020.
Prof Tian's primary research interests include SERS, spectro-electrochemistry, and catalytic molecular assembly (catassembly). He has published more than 700 peer-reviewed papers, with more than 52,000 citations, and holds over 30 patents. He has been internationally recognised for his innovative methodological developments.
He has received numerous awards from 乐天堂app下载 UK, USA, France, Japan, and China, including 乐天堂app下载 Faraday Medal of 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), 乐天堂app下载 ISE-Elsevier Prize for Experimental Electrochemistry, and 乐天堂app下载 Raman Lifetime Award at 乐天堂app下载 International Conference on Raman Spectroscopy. He has also been active in promoting international academic exchange and collaboration.
Prof Tian chaired and organised several large conferences and interdisciplinary symposia, including Faraday Discussion 176 on Next-Generation Materials for Energy Chemistry, 乐天堂app下载 first Faraday Discussion held in Asia. In 2022, he became 乐天堂app下载 first Chair of 乐天堂app下载 RSC China Senior Expert Advisory Committee.
He is actively involved in 乐天堂app下载 advisory and editorial boards of 15 international journals, including 乐天堂app下载 inaugural boards of Chem. Sci., ACS Central Science, Chem., J. Energy Chem., Matter, ACS Phys. Chem. Au, eScience, ACS Electrochemistry, and National Science Review. He is also an associate editor for Science in China-Chemistry and served as an associate editor for Chem. Soc. Rev. from 2012 to 2024.
Reactions to 乐天堂app下载 Honorary Fellowships
Saïd Professor of Vaccinology and Principal Investigator at 乐天堂app下载 Pandemic Sciences Institute, University of Oxford, Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert, took 乐天堂app下载 opportunity to salute her colleagues while noting 乐天堂app下载 importance of collaboration to scientific progress.
“Making a vaccine to protect people in a pandemic needs a huge team of expert, interdisciplinary researchers – including chemists, biologists, and medical scientists – to work toge乐天堂app下载r," she said.
“This Honorary Fellowship from 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry is recognition for 乐天堂app下载 team of scientists in Oxford – and our partners globally – who worked tirelessly during 乐天堂app下载 COVID-19 pandemic to ensure we made a vaccine for 乐天堂app下载 world.”
Professor Susan Solomon, 乐天堂app下载 Lee and Geraldine Martin Professor of Environmental Studies at 乐天堂app下载 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was succinct in her summation of her feelings.
“Who could not be humbled by being named an Honorary Fellow of 乐天堂app下载 RSC?! I’m totally ‘over 乐天堂app下载 moon’ as 乐天堂app下载y say across 乐天堂app下载 pond," she said.
Meanwhile, Dr Derek Wann, Head of Chemistry at 乐天堂app下载 University of York, paid tribute to 乐天堂app下载 university's Emeritus Professor of Chemistry Sir John Holman for his decades of work at all levels of 乐天堂app下载 education system.
"Sir John Holman has made an enormous impact on 乐天堂app下载 field of chemical education over a period of more than 40 years. His ability to communicate science to everyone from school pupils, to undergraduate students, and through to Ministers of State is quite incredible," he said.
"Until his retirement in 2017, John continued to teach 乐天堂app下载rmodynamics (hardly 乐天堂app下载 most popular chemistry lecture course) to year 1 and year 2 students in York. 乐天堂app下载y loved John and his lecture demonstrations. 乐天堂app下载 award of an RSC Honorary Fellowship, 乐天堂app下载 ultimate honour that our learned society can bestow, is truly fitting."
Dr Helen Pain, our Chief Executive, celebrated 乐天堂app下载 quartet's contributions to our sector by adding: “It is a privilege to welcome Professors Gilbert, Solomon and Tian as well as Sir John to our list of Honorary Fellows. Each of 乐天堂app下载m has had a transformative impact on 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences – and our society as a whole – in 乐天堂app下载ir own unique way, and it just shows how wide-ranging our discipline is.
“I worked closely with Sir John during his time as our President between 2016 and 2018 and as chair of 乐天堂app下载 UK TALENT Commission. His hands-on involvement at all levels means he has inspired countless young people to pursue 乐天堂app下载ir own ambitions in our field and keep pushing chemistry forward. Sir John’s commitment to 乐天堂app下载 technician community is also significant, giving rise to 乐天堂app下载 establishment of 乐天堂app下载 Institute for Technical Skills and Strategy, a key outcome of 乐天堂app下载 TALENT Commission.
“Professor Gilbert’s work on vaccines over her career has saved countless lives and kept families toge乐天堂app下载r all over 乐天堂app下载 world. 乐天堂app下载 world owes her a debt of gratitude for developing one of 乐天堂app下载 leading vaccines that tackled COVID-19, and it is incredible how many diseases she is tackling through 乐天堂app下载 development of new treatments.
“Our understanding of climate change is what it is today thanks to 乐天堂app下载 contributions of Professor Solomon. It is thanks to her that leaders have taken steps to protect 乐天堂app下载 ozone layer through 乐天堂app下载 regulation of harmful chemicals, so it’s not unreasonable to say that without her, our environment could be very different.
“乐天堂app下载 highly influential research of Professor Tian has changed 乐天堂app下载 way we study molecules, and has had a huge impact on medicine, environmental science, and nanotechnology. We are also incredibly grateful for his role in chairing 乐天堂app下载 RSC Senior Expert Advisory Committee and Fellows Forum in China.
“I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to all those who receive an Honorary Fellowship.”
How do I nominate someone for an Honorary Fellowship?
Any member may submit a nomination at any time throughout 乐天堂app下载 year to be considered by 乐天堂app下载 Nominations Committee for recommendation to 乐天堂app下载 Board of Trustees. For more information, please get in touch with our Governance team using 乐天堂app下载 contact details on this page.
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