UCL researchers awarded Royal Society of Chemistry prizes

Professor Helen Hailes was awarded the Interdisciplinary Prize for finding new ways of using enzymes to build useful molecules, turn waste materials into valuable products, and break down plastics.

Her research combines chemistry with diverse disciplines including biotechnology, molecular biology, engineering, materials, pharmacy and medical therapies.

On receiving the prize, Professor Hailes said: “I am both delighted and honoured to receive an RSC Interdisciplinary Prize in recognition of my group’s research. I count myself as having been very fortunate to work with talented researchers and collaborators across disciplines, both at UCL, and in other institutions and industry.

“By bringing our interdisciplinary skills together we have been able to make new discoveries and tackle major challenges to impact positively on sustainable synthesis, waste utilisation and novel chemotherapies.”

Dr Crespo-Otero was named winner of the Bourke-Liversidge Prize for mid-career researchers, for developing computer modelling to improve understanding of how molecules behave when they absorb light.

This is important because many modern technologies rely on materials that interact with light, from energy efficient lighting and smartphone displays to solar panels, sensors and medical imaging devices. When materials absorbing light are packed closely together in crystals, their behaviour becomes far more complex, and traditional modelling approaches often struggle to capture the full picture. Dr Crespo-Otero's group develops computational methods to unravel these processes.

These methods help explain why some crystals glow for unusually long times, change colour when compressed, or efficiently convert sunlight into useful energy, and contribute to the design of next generation functional materials.

On receiving the prize, Dr Crespo-Otero said: “I feel deeply honoured and humbled to receive this prize, and I am sincerely grateful to all current and past members of my group, as well as to our collaborators, whose contributions have made this award possible.”

Both prizes are part of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Research & Innovation category of prizes, given in celebration of exceptional people advancing the chemical sciences across industry and academia.

Professor Hailes and Dr Crespo-Otero will receive a medal, a certificate, and £5,000/£3,000 respectively.

Dr Helen Pain, CEO of the Royal Society of Chemistry, said, “Chemistry and chemists are everywhere in daily life and in our society, and our prizes reflect that depth and diversity. Our Research & Innovation prize winners include teams and individuals, professors and apprentices, as well as people from all around the world and in a wide range of roles and sectors. Each person’s contribution plays a vital role in advancing human knowledge and bettering the world that we all live in.”

Links

• Professor Helen Hailes’s academic profile
• Dr Rachel Crespo-Otero’s academic profile
• UCL Chemistry
• UCL Mathematical & Physical Sciences

Image

• Dr Crespo-Otero, left, and Professor Hailes

Media contact

Mark Greaves

m.greaves [at] ucl.ac.uk

+44 (0)20 3108 9485