The University of Manchester is celebrating after winning a series of top awards from the Royal Society of Chemistry, which has recognised the world-leading research being done by its academics. Three of the prizes were awarded to nuclear researchers.
Professor Melissa Denecke, Scientific Director of the University’s Dalton Nuclear Institute, received the Becquerel Medal for outstanding contribution to radiochemistry. Melissa is the first woman ever to win the Becquerel Medal, which recognises her pioneering research using x-ray spectroscopy and her role in the design, construction, commissioning and operation of instrumentation for radioactive studies at large scale, international x-ray spectroscopy facilities.
Melissa said:
“I am humbled and very happy to receive this distinguished award. It is thrilling, and I am very much looking forward to the event to mark the 50th anniversary of the RSC Radiochemistry Group, when I will present the Becquerel Lecture.
“As an Executive Board member of Women in Nuclear Global, I am especially proud to be the first woman to receive this award. We have numerous reasons to celebrate indeed!”
Dr Louise Natrajan won the Bill Newton Award for radiochemistry in recognition of her work to develop new methods to measure and probe radioelements in many different scenarios - including pioneering optical imaging methods - and to increase understanding of the chemistry of actinide ions in unusual oxidation states.
PhD Student Alasdair Formanuik was awarded the biennial Young Radiochemistry Researcher of the Year Award for his work on thorium chemistry. Thorium is becoming increasingly more viable than uranium for the generation of nuclear power, but much less is known about its chemistry - his research has helped to increase understanding of the fundamental nature of its actinide elements.
In addition, the 2016 Longstaff Prize for advancement of the science of chemistry was received by Professor Paul O’Brien, in recognition of his work on developing novel chemistries and processes for materials key to the electronics industry, many of which are of potential importance to the generation of solar energy.
Finally, Professor Richard Winpenny won the 2016 Ludwig Mond Award for outstanding research in inorganic chemistry. This acknowledges his work to extend the miniaturisation of electronic devices to the molecular level - using molecules as part of integrated circuits - which could see quantum states of molecules being used in computation, making it possible to perform calculations which cannot be done by conventional computers.
Dr Robert Parker, chief executive of the Royal Society of Chemistry said: “It is an honour to recognise the illustrious achievements of our prize and award winners, who are advancing excellence in their fields through innovative research and inspirational teaching. We are proud to celebrate and support their work, which has the potential to improve so many lives.”