issue 1 | spring 2017 ChemYork HIGHLIGHTS FROM A LEADING UK CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT

York 2nd in Guardian League Table

Funding boost for state-of- the-art equipment

What does it mean to be a climate scientist? ChemYork Welcome

WELCOME TO THE FIRST EDITION OF CHEMYORK – A NEW AND will provide funds to allow us to house the instrument in brand new, REGULAR MAGAZINE THAT WILL CONTAIN FEATURES, NEWS bespoke accommodation. All in AND ARTICLES ON DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE DEPARTMENT all, this has been a busy period of OF CHEMISTRY, HERE AT YORK. WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL ENJOY planning and application writing, but READING IT AND WELCOME ANY FEEDBACK YOU MAY HAVE, we look forward to the arrival of the instrument next year and the really INCLUDING SUGGESTIONS (AND OFFERS) OF ITEMS THAT MIGHT exciting science that will follow. Watch APPEAR IN FUTURE EDITIONS. this space! It has been an eventful period for As I write, the final term of the is renowned internationally for its many members of staff and recent academic year is underway and the work in protein crystallography, owing months have seen the arrival of babies last teaching events are taking place to work begun by Professor Eleanor to Abi Leng and Phil Helliwell, Katie as undergraduate students prepare Dodson and now ably continued by Stott, Lauren Hunt, Greg Addicott, for the end-of-year assessments. It Dr Kevin Cowtan, on the development Jacqui Hamilton and Andrew Rickard, has been a very good year for us – we of computational methods for solving Alice and Simon Duckett, Sarah were placed second in The Guardian the single-crystal structure of proteins Wilkie, Lyndsay Muschamp, Tom University League Table 2018 and using X-rays. By definition, the Farmer, Marianne Fekete, and Saioa fourth in the three major university experiment requires single crystals but Urresti and Jon Agirre. Our staff guides (Times, Guardian and Complete these are not always easy to obtain; have also been recognised for their University Guide 2017) and we have furthermore, X-ray methods do not excellence and, in addition to the just heard that our undergraduate cope well with very large structures. awards mentioned on page three, programmes, as well as our MSc in This is where Cryo-EM comes in. we have very recently learnt of the Green Chemistry and Sustainable Single crystals are not required and it award of an RSC Tilden Prize to Industrial Technology, have been re- is possible to image objects up to the Professor Lucy Carpenter, the renewal accredited by the Royal Society of level of whole cells, making this a very of a Wellcome Trust Senior Research Chemistry (RSC). Interest in studying powerful methodology indeed. Fellowship for Professor Fred Antson, here remains buoyant: our application However, the technique does not the award of the 2017 AstraZeneca, numbers for entry in September 2017 come cheap, and we have been GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer and Syngenta are up compared to last year, against helped by the incredible generosity of prize for Process Chemistry Research national trends. alumnus Dr Tony Wild who very kindly to Professor Peter O’Brien and the In research, there are many exciting made a donation of £1M, which we award of the British Liquid Crystal stories to tell that are detailed decided to put towards a campaign to Society Young Scientist Prize to elsewhere in this newsletter, but I bring Cryo-EM to York. And we have Richard Mandle. did want to focus on one of these – been successful. Thus, in February People are at the heart of who we cryo electron microscopy (Cryo-EM). we received notification from the are and what we do and so it will be Cryo-EM is a technique that has been Wellcome Trust that we had been a very proud moment for us when, in around for many years, but in recent awarded £1.6M towards the purchase September, we celebrate having held times, advances both in computational of a Cryo-EM instrument – one of an Athena SWAN Gold Award for ten power and, in particular, detector only six institutions to be successful years. There will be events to mark technology have meant that this is in their competition. In addition, this in the next academic year and now the new ‘must-have’ technique with significant support from the more details will follow in the next in structural biology. The York University, we are currently awaiting magazine. Structural Biology Laboratory (YSBL) the outcome of an application that In the meantime, I hope you enjoy our first issue.

Professor Duncan Bruce Head of Department

Front cover image: Ocean buoy used to collect climate data - see feature on page six. Photo credit: NOAA Compiled by Cat Dunn & David Smith Designed by Cookie Graphic Design

2 issue 1 | spring 2017 ChemYork Awards and key lectures

TO DATE, THE 2016/17 ACADEMIC YEAR HAS BEEN A VERY SUCCESSFUL ONE FOR RECOGNITION OF THE REMARKABLE WORK DONE BY ITS MEMBERS OF STAFF.

Professional@York recognition Dr Adrian Whitwood, Departmental Computing Officer and X-ray Crystallographer and Louise Haigh, YSBL Technician were shortlisted as IChemE Global Award ‘Unsung Heroes’ at the Professional@ for Energy York Conference in December 2016. At a major awards event, Adrian’s ability to handle a wealth Professors Gideon Davies and Paul of roles simultaneously, including Walton won the Energy Award computing, crystallography and at the Institution of Chemical management of student lists and Engineers’ (IChemW), awarded exam marking, has ensured Chemistry, jointly with Professor Bernard Biochemistry and Natural Sciences are Henrissat from the French able to function to top form. National Centre for Scientific During 2016, Louise was critical to Research (CNRS) in Marseille. This maintaining research support in YSBL. global award recognised their During this period the other YSBL collaborative work on enzymes support staff were on leave and Louise Royal Society Research which are capable of creating stepped up and went beyond the biofuels from plant waste. call of duty to ensure a high-quality Professorship smooth running lab. Professor Gideon Davies was awarded the prestigious Royal Society Ken Murray Research SLU Honorary Doctorate Professorship. He received this Professor James Clark was awarded research award in recognition of his with an honorary doctorate from the world-leading discoveries relating Swedish University of Agricultural to the role of specific parts of an Sciences (SLU) in recognition of his enzyme’s structure in the catalysis of position as one of the key figures in carbohydrate synthesis, modification Green Chemistry. and breakdown reactions.

Royal Society Athena Runner-Up Prize Presidential Lecture at The Royal Society Athena Runner-Up BA Festival of Science Prize was awarded to Professor Paul Dr Avtar Matharu gave the prestigious Walton. He received this diversity Presidential Address at the chemistry award for making an impact through section of the 2016 British Association promoting evidence-based thinking Festival of Science. His address in equality and his extensive and was entitled “Chemistry: a circular influential activity as a prominent sustainable future”, which explored spokesperson for equality in chemistry’s vital role in achieving the academia. UN Sustainable Development goals.

issue 1 | spring 2017 3 ChemYork Putting hyperpolarisation in a spin In an important breakthrough, method published in Angewandte and Professor Gary Green from the Centre for Hyperpolarisation Chemie International Edition Psychology, could pave the way in Magnetic Resonance (CHyM) 2016, 55, 15642-15645, is to for generating probes with signals has discovered a new method incorporate isotopic labels into that are long-lived enough to that allows highly sensitive their probes, which prevent the survive in the body, enabling signals to be stored outside of signal from ‘relaxing’ too quickly. the direct study of biochemical a magnetic field for up to 15 This research, led by Professor processes non-invasively in an MRI minutes. The secret behind the Simon Duckett from Chemistry machine. Archaeological evidence at Funding boost major risk in wetlands for state-of-the- In a key study, which has global implications for the preservation art equipment of archaeological wetland sites, Dr Kirsty Penkman and researchers from the Departments of Chemistry and Archaeology have analysed bone and wood artefacts collected from the Mesolithic site of Star Carr in North Yorkshire. The team determined how changing environmental and geochemical conditions have caused a rapid deterioration in the quality of organic remains and a tragic loss of cultural heritage. Their study, published in PNAS 2016, 113, 12957- 12962, means this can hopefully be IN A MAJOR STEP FORWARD FOR DEPARTMENTAL avoided at future archaeological sites. INFRASTRUCTURE, THE DEPARTMENT WAS AWARDED £1.6 MILLION TO INVEST IN STATE-OF-THE-ART EQUIPMENT

The funding will be used to invest in of recent years. We are extremely cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM) grateful for the generosity of Dr equipment which will revolutionise Tony Wild and the Wellcome Trust the Department’s ability to in funding this initiative. We are investigate the three-dimensional looking forward to analysing the structures of biological molecules. complex atomic structures of The technique will complement viruses and of proteins involved in a number of existing techniques human disease, here in York.” for imaging objects of biological/ The grant was awarded by biochemical interest by giving the Wellcome Trust, and will be access to an extra range of length matched with a further generous scales (indicated by the red bar in £1M gift from alumnus, Dr the figure) not available currently. Tony Wild. Dr Wild is a leading Professor Gideon Davies said: businessman and philanthropist and “Cryo-electron microscopy is one has been a long-time supporter of of the most exciting developments Chemistry at York.

4 issue 1 | spring 2017 ChemYork 10th Anniversary for Cape Verde Observatory The Cape Verde Atmospheric Observatory (CVO), led by chemists from the University of York’s Wolfson Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratories (WACL) along with German and Cape Verdean scientists, celebrated its 10th anniversary in November 2016. Funded in the UK by the National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS), the CVO delivers crucial information about atmospheric pollution and greenhouse gas levels in the northern hemisphere and contributes to improved predictions of climate change by providing vital data to global climate models.

Green Chemistry explore ways of reducing food waste

It is now widely recognised that are to lead a new research project unavoidable food supply chain food waste is a major problem examining how food manufacturing wastes, received funding of at all stages of the food supply systems can be improved to reduce £800,000 from the Engineering and chain - indeed, finding ways to waste. Physical Sciences Research Council both reduce or use these wastes is The two-year project, which (EPSRC). It is a joint collaboration of high strategic value. The Green will explore how systems can between the Universities of York, Chemistry research group in York be improved to better utilise Loughborough and Nottingham.

issue 1 | spring 2017 5 ChemYork What does it mean to be a climate scientist?

An interview with Dr Kevin Cowtan

Recent studies, carried out by scientists from the Universities of York, California and Ottawa, have provided vital confirmation that the Earth’s oceans have been steadily warming for the past 75 years. There had been some controversy about this because some measures suggested warming might have stalled. Careful analysis of the data and comparing records from multiple sources demonstrated continued warming. The apparent slowdown in warming came from a combination of incomplete global coverage and a shift to using ‘cooler’ measurements from ocean buoys. Dr Kevin Cowtan, CCP4 Research Fellow in the York Structural Biology Laboratory (YSBL) based here in York, was one of the scientists involved in leading the studies. We caught up with him to find out what it means having worked in structural biology to become a “climate scientist” and the challenges he faces.

What was your undergraduate features in data. A lot of it is finding interested in climate when I degree - and do you use it in your the appropriate statistical analysis became aware of people who day-to-day job? to test a particular hypothesis. reject the science. I asked myself My undergraduate degree was in how I would reason with such Theoretical Physics at York. One of the Why does biological chemistry people without relying on appeals best things about the course was all need data scientists? to authority. That meant testing the maths they taught us, and that’s There are two main reasons you the science for myself, which the thing I still use on a daily basis. might need a data scientist. The involved reproducing some of first is that you have too much data the data analysis. When I did What did you research in your PhD to analyse by hand. Then you need that I ran into problems where I - and again, has that been useful? to get a computer to do the same found I could make a meaningful My PhD was focused on analysis that you would do. Or, contribution. computational methods for X-ray sometimes, you can use the speed crystallography - a field I’m still of the computer to do a rather What challenges did you face in working in today. Obviously, I different analysis to answer the becoming a climate scientist, still make constant use of the same research question. having no formal background in crystallographic material. However, The second reason is that you that area? the techniques of data analysis might want to extract a very weak The biggest challenges were lack and algorithm development are signal from very noisy data. Then of domain knowledge and lack of the same in every discipline - from you need a careful analysis to contacts. Fortunately, I managed structural biology and chemistry to separate what parts of the data to address both by linking up with climate science and fusion physics. are signal and what are noise, with other people who were interested strong validation to ensure you are in the problem of science denial, What does a data scientist spend not seeing the answers that you some of whom were PhD students all day doing? want in the noise. in the field of climate. Together we Analysing data! But that can managed to produce our first few involve different activities. Some When did you realise that being a papers, some of which were high of the work we do involves trying data scientist enabled you to solve impact. to separate signal from noise in multidisciplinary problems? One factor was pure chance - we a dataset. Some involves finding It was by chance - I first got couldn’t decide on a name for

6 issue 1 | spring 2017 ChemYork one of our datasets so we avoided field. I make some silly mistakes have an idea for a project, I don’t calling it anything. The user (which generally get pointed out have to get a grant before I can community wanted to use the data, by my collaborators), and reinvent start working on it. I find the most and started referring to the dataset some wheels but I also sometimes relevant resources online and use by the names of the authors, which see implicit assumptions that them to do a preliminary analysis. gave me instant name recognition people working in the field didn’t Often I can do important research in the field. That opened a lot of realise they were making. I’m just using existing data, but even if doors - I could then write to senior also not affiliated with existing I can’t the preliminary analysis puts figures in the field about possible groups, which makes it easier to me in a much stronger position to collaborations and they would give critique the different approaches apply for funding. my requests serious attention. or to combine data from different There are already good resources There are still challenges to sources without treading on too for some areas of chemistry; for overcome - I don’t have any funding many toes. example the National Chemical for my climate work (yet!), which Database Service. For other areas, can be a problem for publication, Some chemists are worried about including a lot of wet-lab based given that most climate journals are ‘open data’ - how do you think it work, we don’t yet have a very good pay-to-publish. might help the discipline in the idea of how to best exploit the future? potential of open data. There is a What are the advantages of Given that both of my disciplines lot of scope here for future project moving into a new area of - crystallography and climate - are ideas (and funding!) to make it research? dominated by open data, I find easier for scientists to see further There are some benefits to having it hard to imagine how anyone by “standing on the shoulders of an ‘outsider perspective’ on a can do science any other way. If I giants”.

Temperature data from the Met Office (thin lines) compared to the optimal Cowtan and Way (2013) global reconstruction (thick lines). The straight red lines indicate the trend over the years 1997-2012 in the respective data. The background image illustrates the coverage of the Met Office data, with colours indicating geographical temperature trends. The Arctic is warming much faster than the rest of the planet.

issue 1 | spring 2017 7 ChemYork

New antibiotic for gonorrhoea Graduate students from the Departments of Chemistry and Biology have developed a new antibiotic, which could be used to treat the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhoea. This is of Silver and Sand - just what particular importance given that, in recent years, a highly drug- resistant strain of gonorrhoea the chemists ordered has emerged with reported cases both in the North of DRUG DISCOVERY INCREASINGLY RELIES ON DEVELOPING England and Japan. UNIQUE THREE-DIMENSIONAL MOLECULAR SCAFFOLDS, WHICH The interdisciplinary team CAN OPEN UP OPPORTUNITIES TO INTERACT IN NEW WAYS WITH targeted the “engine room” of the bacteria using carbon KEY BIOLOGICAL TARGETS. monoxide-releasing molecules Led by Dr Will Unsworth (recently and are reusable, the researchers (CO-RMs), developed in the awarded the Eleanor Dodson produced spirocylic compounds research labs of Professor Ian Fellowship), PhD students in with unusual 3D shapes. Spirocycles Fairlamb and Dr Jason Lynam. Organic Chemistry have recently have historically been overlooked The researchers found that discovered a cheap and efficient in drug discovery research owing to Neisseria gonorrhoeae is way to make an unusual molecular the complexity of their synthesis, more sensitive to CO-based framework which could be of and cost-effective supplies toxicity than other model high value in the pharmaceutical using the method reported in bacterial pathogens, and may industry. Angewandte Chemie International serve as a viable candidate for Using small quantities of silver Edition 2016, 55, 13798–13802, antimicrobial therapy using salts and silica gel, which can be could open up exciting new CO-RMs. easily removed from the reaction opportunities. KMS Seminar Competition Winners

The three winners of the KMS seminar competition were: Hope Adamson - How to wire up a hydrogenase for hydrogen production or oxidation Johnson Matthey Poster Competition Winners Naomi Farren - Recent measurements of organic nitrogen The five winners of the Johnson Richard Spears - An organocatalytic in atmospheric aerosol using Matthey poster competition were: aldol ligation for the site-selective chemical modification of proteins comprehensive two-dimensional Emily Burns - Are pharmaceutical gas chromatography-nitrogen exposure predictions fit for Elizabeth Wheeldon - Embedding chemiluminescence detection prioritising risks to the environment? nanofibres in fabric: Towards (GCxGC-NCD) nanoengineered clothing Aimee Clarke - Mechanistic Michael James - Multiple products and synthetic exploration of a They were presented with certificates from a single precursor through silica-supported silver catalyst in by Dr Martin Partridge who also catalyst selective synthesis dearomatising spirocyclisations delivered a seminar on the ammonia industry. They were presented with certificates Joao Pedro Nunes - Ultrafast electron by Professor Tony Wilkinson. diffraction of 1,2-dithiane

8 issue 1 | spring 2017 ChemYork GRASPing Silly Putty

IN RECENT YEARS, IT HAS EMERGED THAT THE BORAX USED TO curriculum design and developed a CREATE THE ‘SLIME’ OFTEN USED IN CHEMISTRY OUTREACH new ‘green and sustainable’ practical WORK HAS AN UNACCEPTABLE TOXICITY PROFILE. for younger undergraduates. He added “Implementation of the GRASPed experiment with students As part of a Green Reactants and development of a new undergraduate studying Natural Sciences was a big Sustainable Products (GRASP) experiment to investigate the success. Students commented that ‘it project to further embed green and rheological properties of a ‘green’ was great to conduct an experiment sustainable chemistry within the calcium-crosslinked alginate gel. based on the research in York’ and curriculum, Dr Glenn Hurst, Dr Avtar Dr Hurst said “In utilising a that ‘it was refreshing to do a totally Matharu and Dr Brendan Garrett ‘students as partners’ approach, green experiment without having to focused on developing replacements we were able to develop an use gloves’.” for this type of ‘silly putty’ slime. interdisciplinary, research-led However, rather than simply finding undergraduate experiment to aid replacement materials themselves, student understanding of challenging Penultimate Year Prize they decided to fully engage our subject matter through a green undergraduate students with the methodology.” from RSC discovery process. Following development, this Charlotte Gregson, Year 4 MChem Working with a team of experiment was successfully trialled student, won the Penultimate undergraduate students as part of with the first cohort of Natural Year Prize for Analytical Chemistry a third-year MChem mini-project Sciences students as part of a from the Royal Society of (including Nick Cox, James Pollard, new summer activity. In this way, Chemistry (RSC). She received Rebecca Jeffrey and Alex Bowes), through their research, the third year £100 and a one-year student RSC they carried out research into the students had effectively carried out membership. Santander Sports Scholarship

In recognition of her sporting achievement, Elspeth McLeod, Year 4 MChem student, was one of four York students to have been awarded a Santander Elite Sports Scholarship worth £5000. She began powerlifting at York to keep fit but has progressed swiftly through training and has now broken several regional records. She has been selected for Great Britain in the European Championships later this year. issue 1 | spring 2017 9 ChemYork

Revised UG programmes IN SEPTEMBER 2017, THE DEPARTMENT IS LAUNCHING A SET OF REVISED UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMMES. Two of the programmes are new (Chemistry, Green Principles and Sustainable Processes and Chemistry, the Atmosphere and the Environment) and relevant to the topical problems of today’s world. The subjects of the new optional modules are close to tutors’ research interests. In addition, the length of most optional modules is increasing from 10 to 20 credits. This reduces the assessment burden for both students and staff, and simplifies and improves the teaching timetable (e.g. to avoid Top of the Russell Group gaps between lectures and teaching sessions scheduled very late in the afternoon). in NSS 2016 We also used this opportunity to refresh the content of all WITH AN OVERALL STUDENT SATISFACTION SCORE OF 97%, programmes. For instance, teaching YORK WAS PLACED JOINT 1ST OUT OF THE 21 RUSSELL GROUP of biological chemistry has been UNIVERSITIES OFFERING CHEMISTRY DEGREES. reorganised to better match the learning objectives and bring the Furthermore, York Chemistry very happy with the education they teaching in line with cutting-edge was in a clear 1st place among receive. The Department continues developments in biological sciences. the Russell Group in terms of its to invest in teaching facilities, such Significant changes have also scores for Teaching, Assessment & as the world-leading Teaching been introduced in the Teaching Feedback, Personal Development and Labs and will continue to innovate Laboratory, where the focus of Organisation & Management. The in the way it delivers the highest assessment is shifting from marking Department was also placed 2nd and quality undergraduate education, written reports to the assessment 3rd out of 21 for academic support through the academic team who are of student performance in the lab. and learning resources, respectively. dedicated to providing students with The revised approach will encourage Across all aspects of the survey, it is an outstanding experience. and support students in developing evident that students here at York are the best possible laboratory practical skills. The refreshed chemistry 2nd in The Guardian University League Table 2018 programmes were developed in consultation with all of the teaching Chemistry at York has moved to 2nd place in The Guardian University staff and the student body in League Table 2018; its highest ever ranking. Out of 53 chemistry the Department. They have been departments, York was ranked in an outstanding 2nd place, up two places approved by the Periodic Review of from last year. York gained high scores across all areas with an overall teaching (a University-led exercise score of 96.6% and 87.1% for feedback satisfaction; the highest of all of which runs every five to six years departments. and involves external assessors). The Chemistry at York was also ranked 4th in the 2018 Good University changes are also compliant with the Guide. York gained high scores across the board, most notably in Student York Pedagogy, a recent University Satisfaction and Graduate Prospects. initiative focused on programme This builds upon our previous success from last year when we also ranked design and clear learning objectives. 4th in The Times’ Good University Guide 2017. The Department’s scores All of the new degrees have been in The Times league table for teaching and student satisfaction were the accredited by the Royal Society of highest of all Russell Group universities. Chemistry (RSC).

10 issue 1 | spring 2017 ChemYork Science, Human Rights and Refugees

PROFESSOR ROBIN PERUTZ IS A MEMBER OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY’S DIVERSITY COMMITTEE AND THE UK ACADEMIES HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE. HERE HE WRITES ABOUT SOME OF THE ASSOCIATED ISSUES.

They came to this country as on our history in my lifetime. No these are collected together by children on the Kindertransport, doubt there are many more LGBT+ the Helena Kennedy Foundation. as students escaping invasion or scientists round the world who still The International Human Rights as mature University professors; experience persecution. Network of Academies and some who were here already found Universities and Research Councils Scholarly Societies acts as an themselves unable to return home. in Britain and the US have kept information centre for national Such stories of scientific refugees government at arm’s length from academies around the world have repeated themselves many appointment and grant decisions, reporting on individual cases of times. Although the most famous affording us our academic freedom academics facing persecution. sources of refugee scientists are - we don’t usually think it could be Organisations such as the Council Germany and the countries it at risk. Since the inauguration of for At-Risk Academics (CARA) in invaded, Britain has welcomed President Trump, this freedom has the UK, the Scholar Rescue Fund scientists from Hungary escaping come under serious threat in the in the US and the Humboldt Soviet invasion, those escaping US from climate change deniers Foundation in Germany provide apartheid South Africa, Pinochet’s and the emasculation of the bursaries for academics to come Chile, persecution in Argentina and Environment Protection Agency. as visitors to escape persecution Iraq or war in former Yugoslavia. The whole world may be denied or war. Indeed, here in Chemistry The roll-call of scientists who measurements of the temperatures we have hosted two CARA fellows went on to become famous is or changes in forest cover because and one supported by the Scholar extraordinary: Sir George Radda, EPA and NASA are facing cuts. Rescue Fund, all from Syria. This father of NMR in biology; Cesar Moreover, many may lose their jobs is a vital part of the Department’s Milstein, inventor of monoclonal as a consequence. contribution to the global antibodies; Lise Meitner, discoverer What can we do to help scientists community of scholars. of atomic fission; Ernst Chain who who face danger, oppression or isolated penicillin, Ludwig Gutmann suppression? Even if we can’t stop the neurologist who treated the wars, we can raise awareness paraplegics at Stoke Mandeville of the issues, host refugees or raise Equality Good Hospital and many more. Behind funds to support refugees and the Practice Guide the famous are many more who victims of human rights abuses. The Department of Chemistry made their own contributions The Royal Society of Chemistry has been featured in the to our country. I have worked (RSC) ran a cover article in Institute of Physics (IOP) with refugees from Bosnia, Iraq Chemistry World on the plight of good practice guide for and Syria. My own father came refugee scientists last autumn, and Juno Champions working to Britain as a research student Nature recently included a series of towards Athena SWAN Gold, but became stateless, a de facto articles on refugees. ‘Journeying to the end of the refugee, when Germany annexed Student refugees need help to rainbow?’. Austria in 1938. In 2014, Royal go to university because they The guide features tips, Mail marked his centenary with a may not be eligible for student advice and a number of beacon postage stamp. loans. The University of York is activities, highlighting good Looking at an exhibit of Alan offering fee waivers and its Office practice from successful Turing’s nomination papers for of Philanthropic Partnerships and Athena SWAN Gold election as Fellow of the Royal Alumni is raising money for “Equal departments. The York case Society, I was reminded that Access Scholarships” to cover living study focuses on our part-time the persecution of homosexuals, expenses. Many universities are working assurance. including gay scientists, is a stain offering similar scholarships and

issue 1 | spring 2017 11 ChemYork Take your opportunities when they come An interview with the RSC President

Professor Sir John Holman, Emeritus First, there are the many fields of Professor in the Department of chemistry, growing all the time, Chemistry was appointed President especially at the interfaces with of the Royal Society of Chemistry other sciences. Second, there are the Has anything surprised you in your (RSC) in July 2016. After a fulfilling many different kinds of people who role as President? first year, we grabbed a moment work as chemists – all ethnicities, The vote for Brexit surprised and with him to talk about his role faiths, gender, sexuality, introverts, saddened me, as it did many people. as President and the world of extroverts…. There’s no one identikit I represent the scientific societies chemistry. chemist, thank goodness. Third, there on a high level advisory group that are all the places where chemists are Science Minister, Jo Johnson has How did you feel when you became to be found – the RSC has members convened and the complexity of what President of the Royal Society of across 124 countries. I get to meet lies ahead is sobering. I believe there Chemistry? many people across this diverse will be opportunities for UK science I’m the first RSC President from a chemical community. as well as challenges, and we need school teaching background, and to be focused on that. The biggest I feel personally honoured as well What would you most like to change challenge is around the movement as pleased that chemistry teaching in the world of chemistry through of people: science is a human activity has been recognised in this way. your role as President? and without movement of people Teachers have a critical job to do Three things: between countries, science cannot inspiring the next generation of • For chemistry to assert its identity flourish. At the RSC we’re determined chemists and without them there more positively – not as an to get the best possible outcome from will be no future chemistry. When I endangered science under threat Brexit for science that we can in the walk along the corridors of the RSC from its neighbours, but as the complex haggling that lies ahead. HQ in London and I see the galaxy enabling science without which of eminent past presidents, I feel others cannot grow, and a science In a career where you have achieved honoured but also humbled. in its own right. so much, what advice would you • For the RSC to become an even give to an undergraduate student How did your previous jobs more inclusive community, starting out at York? as teacher, headteacher and for example, expanding the Take your opportunities when they university professor prepare you membership of technicians as well come. Don’t spend too much time for the role of President? as graduates, and including people wondering whether you are up to the The President does a lot of public who are not professional chemists next challenge – just go for it! Life is speaking, and if there’s one thing a at all, but just find chemistry more exciting that way. headteacher can do, it’s talk! I feel fascinating and want to know more Talking of opportunities – I owe an familiar with chemistry in schools about it. enormous amount to Chemistry at and universities, and I’m enjoying the • For chemistry to become ever more York. Thanks to David Waddington, I opportunity to meet chemists from popular as a subject to study. had the opportunity to work here in industry. My work as a government the 1980’s, while still a schoolteacher, adviser in 2006-2010 is also useful What has been the most unusual/ on the new Salters’ chemistry experience because the President interesting experience during your courses. In 2000, the University interacts with a lot of policymakers. Presidency? gave me the chance to work here Being a Trustee of other Visiting a chemistry class in a school permanently as Salters’ Professor organisations, such as the Natural in India and being handed the of Chemical Education. And once I History Museum has also given me stick of chalk and asked ‘Will you was at York permanently many more useful perspectives as we carry out teach them please? You have 45 opportunities opened up, including the RSC’s governance review. minutes’. I quickly made up a lesson the chance to bid for the contract to on polymers, the adrenaline kicked build the National Science Learning What is/are the best thing(s) about in and I taught one of the most Centre. being President of the RSC? enjoyable lessons of my life. There’s The Department is exceptional in Meeting people across the diverse nothing like a class of enthusiastic many ways. For me, above all, as a mosaic that is chemistry. Chemistry 14-year-olds, hungry to learn, to make place that values education for its is diverse in three dimensions. you rise to the occasion. own sake. 12 issue 1 | spring 2017