2019 Sir Edward Frankland Fellowship Winner
Dr Alison Parkin, University of York
Awarded for advancing the understanding of the molecular basis of oxygen tolerance in hydrogenases, relevant to their medical significance.
Alison grew up in the small village of Broomfleet, East Yorkshire. At South Cave Primary School, her first science teacher was her Dad, Stan, but despite this she became interested in Chemistry. While at South Hunsley School she enjoyed a fantastic work experience placement at Humberside Scientific Service in Hull and loved seeing pharmaceutical manufacturing in action while working at Essential Nutrition in Brough.
Alison studied Undergraduate Chemistry at Jesus College, University of Oxford from 2000-2004, and enjoyed her final year "Part II" MChem project in the lab of Prof Fraser Armstrong so much that she stayed on to do her DPhil (PhD, 2004-2008) working under Fraser's supervision, learning how to use electrochemistry to study the redox chemistry of metalloenzymes. In 2008 Alison was awarded a Junior Research Fellowship in Chemistry by Merton College, Oxford, and this enabled her to start independent research into the role of hydrogen in bacterial metabolism and tutor Undergraduates in Inorganic Chemistry.
Since 2012, Alison has been fortunate enough to have returned to God's own Country of Yorkshire, working in the Department of Chemistry at the University of York. Her research group focuses on developing new tools and techniques to probe and harness redox chemistry, particularly in metalloenzymes.
| Year | Name | Institution | Citation |
| 2017 |
Professor Aidan McDonald | Trinity College Dublin | Awarded for discoveries made towards understanding the reactivity properties of high-valent late transitional metal oxidants, and towards the functionalisation of 2D nanomaterials through simple coordination chemistry techniques. |
| 2015 | Dr Scott Dalgarno | Heriot-Watt University | Awarded for his work in supramolecular coordination chemistry, in particular the synthesis and properties of d-block calixarene compounds with applications in molecular nanomagnetism |
| 2013 | Dr Richard Layfield | University of Manchester | Awarded for his contributions to organometallic chemistry, and in particular, his pioneering work on magnetic studies of organo-lanthanide complexes. |
| 2011 | Dr Stephen Liddle | University of Nottingham | Awarded for his contributions to f-element chemistry. |
| 2009 | Euan Brechin | University of Edinburgh | Awarded for his work on the design, synthesis and properties of metal coordination complexes that enhances our understanding of d-block molecular nanomagnets. |
| 2008/09 | Polly Arnold | University of Edinburgh |
Awarded for her development of new chemistry of the f-elements, especially with carbene ligands. |
| 2006/07 |
Dr Robin B Bedford | University of Bristol | Awarded for his extensive contributions to the understanding of mechanistic chemistry relevant to homogeneous catalysis involving, particularly, C-C bond-forming reactions and C-H bond activation. |
| 2004/05 |
Dr Mike J Hannon | University of Warwick | Awarded for his significant and original contributions to coordination and supramolecular chemistry, including the synthesis of chiral complexes that bond selectively to the major groove of DNA and induce intramolecular coiling. |
| 2002/03 |
Dr M W George | University of Nottingham | |
| 2000/01 |
M D Ward | ||
| 1998/99 |
P Mountford | ||
| 1996/97 | D M O'Hare | ||
| 1994/95 | D W Bruce | ||
| 1992/93 | V C Gibson | ||
| 1990/91 | J D Woollins | ||
| 1988/89 | F G N Cloke | ||
| 1986/87 | M J Winter | ||
| 1984/85 | D J Cole-Hamilton |
Re-thinking recognition: Science prizes for the modern world
This report is the result of an independent review of our recognition programmes. Our aim in commissioning this review was to ensure that our recognition portfolio continues to deliver the maximum impact for chemical scientists, chemistry and society.