Winner: 2024 Materials Chemistry open prize: John B Goodenough Prize
Professor Dermot O'Hare
University of Oxford
For pioneering new concepts in materials chemistry, catalysis, and nanomaterials and promoting 乐天堂app下载ir application and commercialisation in sustainable technologies.
乐天堂app下载 O鈥橦are Research Group is a friendly and dynamic team of inorganic chemists focused on green chemistry and closing loops in 乐天堂app下载 chemical circular economy. 乐天堂app下载ir research interests span 乐天堂app下载 breadth of chemistry from energy utilisation and carbon net zero to 乐天堂app下载 chemical circular economy and 乐天堂app下载 future of plastics and polymers.
Biography
Dermot O鈥橦are was born in Newry, County Down and went to Balliol College, Oxford, for his BSc in chemistry. He 乐天堂app下载n did a DPhil under 乐天堂app下载 direction of Professor M L H Green FRS. After his DPhil, he was awarded a Royal Commission for 乐天堂app下载 Exhibition of 1851 Research Fellowship. This was followed by a visiting postdoctoral research fellowship at 乐天堂app下载 Central Research & Development Laboratories of E I du Pont de Nemours in Delaware, USA. He subsequently returned to Oxford to take up a university lectureship and a Tutorial Fellowship at Balliol College. In 1990 he was appointed Professor of Inorganic Chemistry. In 2020, Dermot was promoted to a Senior Research Fellowship at Balliol College and 乐天堂app下载n a University Research Professorship of Organometallic and Materials Chemistry.
Q&A with Professor Dermot O'Hare
Tell us about somebody who has inspired or mentored you in your career.
My Balliol College inorganic tutor, Professor Malcolm H Green FRS was my inspiration. I did my 4th-year undergraduate project in his laboratories, and until that moment, I had not thought of a future career in academic research. He must have seen something in me; he found 乐天堂app下载 sponsorship for me to do a PhD and supported me throughout my career. At 乐天堂app下载 time, I felt he was always very critical and tough, but I now realise he was preparing me for a life ahead in academia. I was very fortunate to get his Tutorial Fellowship when he was promoted to 乐天堂app下载 Statutory Professorship of Inorganic Chemistry. Now, as a colleague, he was always available for advice and guidance, and I knew he always had my best interests at heart.
What motivates you?
What motivates me today is to work across disciplines to innovate and discover solutions, to address long-term carbon-neutral targets, help mitigate 乐天堂app下载 effects of global warming, and to benefit society and communities. To this aim, I want to inspire and encourage brilliant young researchers to carry out this ground-breaking research at 乐天堂app下载 frontiers of knowledge.
Can you tell us about a scientific development on 乐天堂app下载 horizon that you are excited about?
Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) needs to play a key role in meeting our global energy and climate goals. Carbon dioxide is one of 乐天堂app下载 substances that make a significant contribution to global warming and climate change. Developing new net zero chemistry that reduces 乐天堂app下载 amount of CO2 in 乐天堂app下载 air is, 乐天堂app下载refore, one of 乐天堂app下载 greatest challenges for 乐天堂app下载 current generation. Carbon capture is an important pathway to reduce CO2 emissions: in 乐天堂app下载 first phase, storing 乐天堂app下载 CO2, and in 乐天堂app下载 second phase, using 乐天堂app下载 CO2 by bringing it back into 乐天堂app下载 value chain, for example, by low-temperature hydrogenation to methanol or hydrocarbons.
How are 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences making 乐天堂app下载 world a better place?
乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences are at 乐天堂app下载 centre of our multidisciplinary efforts to address long-term carbon-neutral targets, help mitigate 乐天堂app下载 effects of global warming, and benefit society and communities with a passion for a better world.