Our 2020 prize and award winners

For exploiting supramolecular interactions and dynamic covalent bonding to generate assays of practical utility, and for communicating the excitement of chemistry to students of all ages.

For seminal work on multi-scale materials that enable new ways to achieve ultrafast, coherent, and directional light emission at the nanoscale.

For innovations in materials chemistry, with applications in medicine and nanotechnology.

For the invention of a ‘field free’ trap for confining and manipulating a single colloidal particle or molecule, enabling accurate and precise measurements of molecular charge in aqueous solution.

For creative and comprehensive syntheses of functional, self-assembling polymeric materials.

For contributions to discovery of novel chemical probes, and their application in opening up new understanding of protein modification in living systems, leading to the validation of novel drug targets in cancer and infectious disease.

For the development and application of computational methods in conjunction with experiment as powerful and predictive tools in the physical chemistry of solids.

For contributions to the non-crystalline metal-organic framework domain, including synthesis and characterization of the first liquid and glass MOF states.

For the design and evolution of enzymes using an expanded genetic code.

For pioneering applications of X-ray and neutron scattering techniques to porous materials science and catalysis.

For pioneering work on fragment-based drug discovery and microfluidic microdroplets.

For advances in the design, synthesis and innovative application of functional materials in optics, electronics, and energy.

For seminal contributions to understanding the roles of heme in biology.

For the pioneering development of biophysical methods and bioinformatics tools to enable the characterisation of ion channel-drug molecule complexes.

For seminal contributions to fundamental and applied inorganic chemistry, and for critical work in policy setting at the interface of academia with industry and government.

For seminal work on the design, synthesis and characterization of porous metal-organic framework materials for substrate binding and selectivity.

For the development of commercialised ingestible sensors for gut disorders, gas sensors for pollutants and point-of-care biosensors.

For extensive contributions to understanding the inorganic and organometallic chemistry of the f elements.

For seminal contributions to the fields of spin chemistry and electron paramagnetic resonance.

For outstanding contributions to catalysis, both in fundamental studies and commercial application.

For long-standing service to the RSC Analytical Division and the sustained promotion of analytical chemistry, particularly atomic spectroscopy.

For diligent and passionate work to develop and commercialize precious metal complexes to promote homogeneous catalysis for real world industrial applications.

For outstanding service to the Royal Society of Chemistry through supporting and developing professional development activities for our community, and taking an active role in our governance committees.

For outstanding service to the Royal Society of Chemistry through the activities of our inorganic and biochemical member-led communities.

For outstanding service to the Royal Society of Chemistry through our Historical Group and for advising on activities celebrating the history of the chemical sciences.

For outstanding service to the Royal Society of Chemistry through our Local Sections, governance committees and Board of Trustees.

For outstanding service to the Royal Society of Chemistry through the activities of the Sheffield and District Local Section and the Atomic Spectroscopy Group.

For creative contributions to organic synthesis and synthetic methodology.

For innovative work on porous nanostructures for applications in the energy and sustainability sectors.

For innovative contributions to the development of new tools for the enzymatic synthesis, modification and analysis of bioactive molecules, in particular complex glycoconjugates.

For the development and applications of analytical theories and computational methods for describing proton-coupled electron-transfer reactions and enzyme catalysis.

For the development of catalytic C–H functionalization reactions and their applications in organic synthesis.

For the development of new methods in the synthesis and use of heterocycles in the areas of radical and organosulfur chemistry.

For the combined application of synthesis and ultrafast spectroscopy to advance our understanding of the excited-state dynamics of transition metal complexes.

For proficiency in a variety of analytical techniques and serving as a fantastic advocate and brand ambassador for apprenticeships, chemistry and Thames Water.

For the discovery of an unprecedented transition metal complex with a hexagonal planar geometry.

For the pioneering invention of the dynamic vapour sorption instrument, which has transformed research laboratory practise worldwide.

For the development of uniquely nucleophilic hydrido- and organocalcium reagents.

For outstanding accomplishments in designing, implementing and evaluating evidence-based chemistry curricula and catalysing the careers of many chemistry education researchers.

For outstanding synthetic inorganic and organometallic chemistry and subsequent applications in catalysis, functional materials and biomedical imaging.

For the development of practical biocompatible inks made of 2D materials and their applications in the biomedical field and in printed electronics.

For major advances in the catalytic transformations of renewable substrates leading to industrial processes and products.

For the development of novel kinetic analyses to streamline the elucidation of reaction mechanisms.

For impactful work in green chemistry teaching resulting in national and international renown, and particularly for innovative use of social media in higher education.

For the team's pivotal role in operating the laboratory courses, supporting research and developing a highly successful and creative outreach programme in a new Department of Chemistry.

For pioneering accurate chemical measurements of surfaces and interfaces.

For validating complex methods for the analysis of special nuclear materials.

For the delivery of research that addressed challenges associated with the continuing safe storage and disposal of radioactive legacy nuclear waste.

For inspiring the next generation of chemists through activities that link classroom teaching to real world chemistry research.

For developing the Chemistry Communicators' Challenge to promote science communication across their diverse member community.

For developing the food chemistry periodic table in addition to addressing global challenges through events and publications.

For dedication to the planning, coordination and ongoing development of the Schools Analyst Competition.

For dedication to the diversification of the committee and programmes of the Chilterns and Middlesex Local Section.

For dedication to the development of an analytical chemistry training programme in Africa.

For dedication to expanding the public engagement activities of the Kent Local Section.

For pioneering analytical and polyomic studies that inform chemical ecology and natural product modes of action.

For enhanced understanding of the role of biomolecule-nanomaterials interactions and the ecological corona in environmental fate and toxicity of nanomaterials.

For outstanding contributions to the development and application of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in the area of electronic materials and devices.

For elucidating design principles of artificial metalloproteins to gain novel and deeper insights into the structure and function of natural systems.

For pioneering work in the synthesis and characterization of inorganic molecules and materials exhibiting new physical phenomena.

For pioneering contributions in the field of s-block metal chemistry, particularly in the area of alkaline earth metal catalysis.

For contributions to creating Angstrom-scale atomically smooth capillaries from two-dimensional materials and unravelling the properties of fluids under atomic-scale confinement.

For creative applications of metal hydride catalysis to address diverse challenges in organic synthesis, including carbon-carbon activation and cyclic peptide construction.

For outstanding contributions across the broad spectrum of natural product chemistry.

For the development and application of chemical methods for understanding the biology of membraneless organelles.

For the combined application of organic chemistry, molecular biology, and biochemistry to study posttranslationally modified peptides and phosphonate natural products.

For pioneering contributions to solution processed organic semiconductors, particularly heavy main group containing polymers, and their device applications.

For leading the scientific team of a small diabetes spin-out company towards one of the highest value exits for an early stage technology, and for pioneering new commercial opportunities with a second company founded after the acquisition.

For the team's ground-breaking synergistic studies of lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase enzymes and insights into the copper histidine brace active site.

For outstanding contributions to the design and synthesis of selective carbohydrate receptors with potential to improve the well-being of those with diabetes.

For outstanding and innovative research on the conservation of Mary Rose iron cannonballs, which has produced unique insights to the field of conservation.

For pioneering work on the use of supramolecular and nano-chemistry to manufacture multifunctional nanomaterials and devices.

For developing innovative and accessible ways of ensuring that chemistry in schools remains a rigorous practical subject.

For continued wide ranging contributions to the development of new synthetic methods employing transition metal catalysts, and the application of these methods to the efficient (atom economic), asymmetric synthesis of complex targets of biological interest.

For deep and scholarly insight into the mechanisms of organometallic reactions and the design of organometallic catalysts.

For sustained and pioneering contributions to the design and synthesis of novel biocompatible polymers.

For pioneering work in silicon quantum dots and contributions to practical applications of silicon nanostructures in the electronics, photonics and biomedical fields.

For developing novel nanomaterials for single-molecule applications, organic electronics, sensing, catalysis, bio-labelling and energy conversion.

For the discovery and development of inorganic molecular materials for flat panel displays and lighting, combining insights into the photophysical properties and synthesis of inorganic complexes.

For pioneering a quantitative description of non-covalent interactions and establishing key principles in supramolecular design to create duplex-forming sequence oligomers and catalytic assemblies.

For outstanding contributions towards the understanding of complex aqueous interfaces and the formation of ice at such interfaces.

For the impactful development of water harvesting from desert air using metal–organic frameworks.

For excellence in theoretical and practical aspects of chemical measurement leading to the recent redefinition of the mole, and communication of these changes.