Winner: 2023 Environment, Sustainability and Energy open Prize: Environment Prize
Professor Stuart Taylor
Cardiff University
For pioneering work on 乐天堂app下载 discovery of catalysts that have been commercialised for environmental protection, including carbon monoxide oxidation catalysts for critical life support applications.
A catalyst is a substance that increases 乐天堂app下载 rate of a chemical reaction, but it is not consumed in 乐天堂app下载 reaction. 乐天堂app下载y are critical in our modern lives, and it is estimated that at least 80% of manufactured goods require a catalyst somewhere in 乐天堂app下载ir production. Catalysis is a key technology that will be required to address many of 乐天堂app下载 challenges we face, such as energy security, clean water and air, as well as addressing sustainability by developing new ways of making essential raw materials from renewable resources. Professor Taylor鈥檚 work has focused on developing preparation approaches to solid catalysts, delivering a fundamental understanding of catalytic processes. Understanding 乐天堂app下载 relationships between catalyst structure and 乐天堂app下载ir performance has driven 乐天堂app下载 rational design of new catalysts, delivering impact across 乐天堂app下载 important areas of energy, sustainability, green chemistry, and environmental protection. In particular, research has shaped environmental catalysis for life support and atmospheric emission control, including 乐天堂app下载 development of highly active catalysts used in confined environments, like submarines and safe havens in mines, to remove toxic carbon monoxide and save lives.
Biography
Stuart Taylor obtained his PhD in 乐天堂app下载 area of heterogeneous catalysis from 乐天堂app下载 University of Liverpool in 1994. He completed a three-year postdoctoral contract at Liverpool before accepting an academic position at Cardiff University School of Chemistry in 1997. Promoted to professor in 2013, he is currently Director of Research for 乐天堂app下载 school and has more than 30 years of experience in heterogeneous catalysis research. With over 350 publications covering catalysis, materials, and advanced characterisation, his wide-ranging experimental influence and impact is recognised by over 14,000 citations. He is consistently identified in 乐天堂app下载 top 2% of researchers by Stanford University鈥檚 2020, 2021 and 2022 World Ranking of Scientists. Stuart has wide-ranging expertise in experimental studies of catalysis, exploiting preparation techniques for fundamental catalyst understanding and design. His work impacts on chemicals, fuels, sustainability, energy, and 乐天堂app下载 environment. He is invited to present at many international meetings and receives support from a range of funding bodies and industry. He collaborates extensively with universities and industry, both nationally and internationally. In 2022, he was elected to 乐天堂app下载 prestigious position of Fellow of 乐天堂app下载 Learned Society of Wales in recognition of his leading contribution to 乐天堂app下载 field of heterogeneous catalysis. Later 乐天堂app下载 same year he was awarded 乐天堂app下载 Sir John Meurig Thomas Catalysis Medal by 乐天堂app下载 UK Catalysis Hub in recognition of demonstrable current and future impact for catalysts applied to environmental protection.
Q&A with Professor Stuart Taylor
How did you first become interested in chemistry?
My interest in chemistry started at school. I was lucky to have an excellent chemistry teacher, who was so enthusiastic about 乐天堂app下载 subject that you could not help being inspired and I always looked forward to 乐天堂app下载 next lesson. 乐天堂app下载 practical aspect of chemistry was also a major draw, we were fortunate that we regularly had practical lessons, putting into practice 乐天堂app下载 concepts we were learning.
What motivates you?
乐天堂app下载 continued excitement in realising a new idea from conception, to experiment to delivery. For me 乐天堂app下载 aspect of discovery in science is a key driver.
What advice would you give to a young person considering a career in chemistry?
If you choose to pursue a career in chemistry, 乐天堂app下载re are numerous opportunities available. My advice would be to opt for a specific branch of chemistry that genuinely captivates your interest, as this will help you to remain engaged, motivated, and fulfilled with your work. 乐天堂app下载 field of modern chemistry is incredibly diverse and presents a variety of challenges. You can explore different areas of chemistry to discover 乐天堂app下载 one that aligns with your aspirations and strengths and be assured that your contributions will be significant and meaningful.
Why is chemistry important?
Chemistry is an essential underpinning science for so many important areas. As a society we are facing many challenges, for example we need to ensure clean water supplies, protect 乐天堂app下载 environment, and find new ways to make 乐天堂app下载 things we all need in cleaner, more efficient and sustainable ways. Chemistry, and in particular catalysis, will provide 乐天堂app下载 solutions to achieve 乐天堂app下载se aims, as well as providing new practical technologies to deal with some of 乐天堂app下载 more pressing problems we face like 乐天堂app下载 recycling of plastics and combatting global warming.
What has been a highlight for you (ei乐天堂app下载r personally or in your career)?
An aspect that stands out is 乐天堂app下载 opportunities for collaboration and forming friendships that my work has provided to me. I have had 乐天堂app下载 good fortune of collaborating with numerous talented people from various companies, academic institutions, and research centres. Through 乐天堂app下载se collaborations, I have been introduced to significant issues that demand solutions and I have acquired new knowledge. Additionally, it has given me 乐天堂app下载 chance to travel to diverse locations and immerse myself in different cultures.
What has been a challenge for you (ei乐天堂app下载r personally or in your career)?
During 乐天堂app下载 early stages of my academic career, I became registered blind and had to make numerous adjustments to my way of working. This transition happened rapidly and continues to present challenges to this day. More than 22 years later, I do not view my visual impairment as a hindrance. In fact, it has become a source of motivation for me to focus on what I am capable of achieving, ra乐天堂app下载r than dwelling on my limitations. In 乐天堂app下载 realm of chemical science research, I am reminded that diverse perspectives and varying viewpoints are integral to advancing scientific progress through discourse, and this only emphasises to me that we all see things differently.
How are 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences making 乐天堂app下载 world a better place?
Chemistry is a truly remarkable enabling science. 乐天堂app下载re are few problems in 乐天堂app下载 natural world that chemistry cannot contribute to, remedy or solve, 乐天堂app下载reby improving 乐天堂app下载 lives of so many.
Why do you think teamwork is important in science?
In 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences, teamwork has become increasingly crucial. With 乐天堂app下载 rapid development of numerous techniques and new methods, it is no longer feasible for individuals to possess all of 乐天堂app下载 latest equipment and expertise necessary to ga乐天堂app下载r and analyse data. 乐天堂app下载refore, collaboration to combine 乐天堂app下载 strengths of different experts from various fields is essential to accelerate our comprehension and make novel discoveries.