Professor Dermot O'Hare FRSC

My Balliol College inorganic tutor, Professor Malcolm H Green FRS was my inspiration. I did my 4th-year undergraduate project in his laboratories, and until that moment, I had not thought of a future career in academic research. He must have seen something in me; he found the sponsorship for me to do a PhD and supported me throughout my career. At the time, I felt he was always very critical and tough, but I now realise he was preparing me for a life ahead in academia. I was very fortunate to get his Tutorial Fellowship when he was promoted to the Statutory Professorship of Inorganic Chemistry. Now, as a colleague, he was always available for advice and guidance, and I knew he always had my best interests at heart.

What motivates me today is to work across disciplines to innovate and discover solutions, to address long-term carbon-neutral targets, help mitigate the effects of global warming, and to benefit society and communities. To this aim, I want to inspire and encourage brilliant young researchers to carry out this ground-breaking research at the frontiers of knowledge.

Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) needs to play a key role in meeting our global energy and climate goals. Carbon dioxide is one of the substances that make a significant contribution to global warming and climate change. Developing new net zero chemistry that reduces the amount of CO₂ in the air is, therefore, one of the greatest challenges for the current generation. Carbon capture is an important pathway to reduce CO₂ emissions: in the first phase, storing the CO₂, and in the second phase, using the CO₂ by bringing it back into the value chain, for example, by low-temperature hydrogenation to methanol or hydrocarbons.

The chemical sciences are at the centre of our multidisciplinary efforts to address long-term carbon-neutral targets, help mitigate the effects of global warming, and benefit society and communities with a passion for a better world.