Prestigious prizes, compostable 'plastic', cancer therapy hope and alumni news!
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Chem@Cam summer 2021 Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry
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Dear alumna/alumnus,
Ah, for the halcyon days of 1977, when the above photo of Part II Chemistry was taken without a thought about social distancing. Like so many of us, Peter Norman (Emmanuel 1974) was using lockdown to do some tidying up when he came across the photo. You can read Peter's 'alumni postcard' in this summer e-version of Chem@Cam, discover what two of our postgrads are doing to make Cambridge more accessible, and read about our most recent research and the international recognition it has brought.
With hopes that you are well and that summer brings you a reminder of your own halcyon days in Chemistry,
Dr James Keeler
Head of Department
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DNA pioneers win Millennium Technology Prize
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Famously sketched out over a pint at the Panton Arms, Shankar Balasubramanian and David Klenerman's idea revolutionised DNA sequencing and has now been awarded one of the world's most prestigious science prizes. |
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Leading battery researcher awarded Körber Prize |
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Professor Clare Grey has received the Körber European Science Prize for her instrumental work in the development of next-generation batteries and cost-effective storage systems for renewable energy – key to the zero-carbon revolution. |
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Alternative to single-use plastics
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Researchers in Tuomas Knowles' group have developed a compostable, plant-based plastic-like material that's as robust as engineering plastics, heralding a 'non-plastic' revolution. |
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Research in the Bernardes Lab has shown that a chemical compound found in the Indian Long Pepper can suppress the growth of glioblastoma, one of the least treatable types of brain cancer. |
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Peter Norman on pharmaceutical consultancy and cooking |
Peter Norman (Emmanuel 1974) was a research chemist for 20 years, then a consultant to the pharmaceutical industry. He fondly remembers the mass transit of bicycles along Tennis Court Road after a 10am lecture.
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When Surabhi Agrawal applied for a postgraduate degree in the UK, she had plenty of advice from her older sisters. So she founded The Bhagini Project, which means 'elder sister', to help other Indian women pursue higher education. You can watch 'Corrosion', a video by Surabhi about her research, by clicking on her image. |
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"There are a lot of talents in developing countries that could thrive in Cambridge – all they need is a little mentorship and direction," says postgraduate David Izuogu. The success of his initiative to help African students navigate Cambridge's application process means more mentors are needed. |
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Curly Arrows win photo competition
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This is the correct photo of The Curly Arrow Appreciation Society, who won the Chemistry Race photo competition featured on page 18 of Chem@Cam 62. Our apologies for incorrectly using a photo of runners-up Cerious. |
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Early-career chemist honoured
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Stephen Cox enjoyed reading books about the unusual, gory side of science when he was growing up, but he never dreamed he'd become a computational chemist and win a prize for Best Paper by an Emerging Investigator. |
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Dr Chiara Giorio has been awarded the Royal Society of Chemistry's Early Career Award in Environment, Sustainability & Energy for her role in the discovery of how systemic pesticides harm honeybees. Read more > |
Professor Jonathan Goodman sits on the RSC Chemical Information and Computer Applications Group, which has just won the 2021 Inspirational Committee Award. Read more > |
The new University Day Nursery being constructed on Harrison Drive will be named the Chris Abell Day Nursery, in recognition of his instrumental role in its inception. Chris was also an early instigator of the Postdoc Business Plan Competition run by Cambridge Enterprise, which offers training on how to develop business plans and business modelling, now renamed in his honour. Read about Chris Abell's life and work > |
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Our campaign for the University and Colleges of Cambridge is raising funds to attract the brightest minds, create the finest facilities and give the freedom to create more world-changing ideas. To do this, we need your help. |
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