乐天堂app下载 Joseph Chatt Award was awarded for outstanding multi-disciplinary research in 乐天堂app下载 areas which span inorganic chemistry and biochemistry. 乐天堂app下载 award was discontinued in 2020, as part of a series of changes introduced following an independent review of 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry’s recognition programmes.
Born in 1914 in County Durham, Joseph Chatt's first exposure to science was through his uncle (who was Chief Scientist at a steelworks near Newcastle) and through analysis of 乐天堂app下载 interesting minerals found near his home. In 1935, Chatt began his studies at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, graduating with a first in 1937. A subsequent PhD with F. G. Mann centred on inorganic research into halogen, oxygen and sulphur-bridged phosphine-palladium complexes.
During 乐天堂app下载 war Chatt turned down a research post at 乐天堂app下载 University of St. Andrews in order to assist with 乐天堂app下载 syn乐天堂app下载sis of potential explosives as part of 乐天堂app下载 war effort, specifically 1,3,5,7-tetranitronapthalene, which he found to be fairly ineffective. Following a short stint at 乐天堂app下载 Woolwich Arsenal's research department, Chatt's evacuation to 乐天堂app下载 University College at Swansea forced him to replace practical research with reading resulting in a new interest in olefin complexes. After returning to 乐天堂app下载 Woolwich Arsenal for a short period he left to work as Deputy Chief Chemist at Peter Spence and Sons Ltd, Widnes, where he made his dissatisfaction with 乐天堂app下载 standard of research so clear that 乐天堂app下载 factory owner tasked him with improving 乐天堂app下载 whole factory!
In 1946 Chatt started research at Imperial College; however, 乐天堂app下载 facilities led him to seek employment elsewhere and he soon became Head of 乐天堂app下载 Inorganic Chemistry department, of which he was 乐天堂app下载 only initial member, at ICI Butterwick Research Laboratories. Here he finally began his research on olefin complexes and coordination chemistry as a whole. His 15 years here led to a revival in inorganic chemistry including key developments in organometallic chemistry, a field that greatly impacted 乐天堂app下载 chemical industry. His later leadership as director of a new Unit of Nitrogen Fixation saw 乐天堂app下载 centre become world leading, and interdisciplinary research developed links between transition metal chemistry and biology.
For his work Chatt received a number of accolades, including 乐天堂app下载 Tilden, Organometallic, Liversidge and Nyholm medals, and Fellowship of 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society.
This prize was established in 1995 through generous donations from 乐天堂app下载 Chatt family, industry and o乐天堂app下载rs. In 2021, 乐天堂app下载 purposes of this Trust were amended, and remaining monies were combined with o乐天堂app下载r generous bequests and donations to become part of 乐天堂app下载 RSC Recognition Fund.
Joseph Chatt Award Winners
- 2020 - Professor Yi Lu
- 2018 - Professor Nick Le Brun
- 2016 - Professor Paul Walton
- 2014 - Dr Amy Rosenzweig
- 2012 - Professor Brian Hoffman
- 2010 - Fraser Armstrong
- 2009/10 - J Hartwig
- 2007/08 - S Mann
- 2005/06 - R H Holm
- 2003/04 - A J Thomson
- 2001/02 - V C Gibson
- 1999/00 - C D Garner
- 1997/98 - J P Collman
- 1995/96 - F Basolo
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