Departmental news
Friday 17 May 2019
A new spectroscopic technique that suppresses water absorptions allows infrared spectroscopic analysis of blood serum proteins for biomedical applications.
Thursday 16 May 2019
An environmentally-friendly solvent developed in our green chemistry laboratories has won a top US industry award.
Tuesday 14 May 2019
York’s Department of Chemistry will play a crucial role in a project to accurately estimate global climate change since the start of the industrial era, using data collated since the days of the Clipper ships over 200 years ago.
Wednesday 8 May 2019
Dr Alison Parkin receives fellowship in recognition of research into sustained production of hydrogen in high levels of oxygen.
Tuesday 7 May 2019
Researchers investigating how sunscreen ingredients interact with UV light are calling for more scientific tests to determine how effective commercial sunscreens are in protecting people from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
Tuesday 7 May 2019
The Department was delighted with the announcement in May 2019 that it had received a new Athena SWAN Gold Award. In 2007, York Chemistry was the first department nationally to win an Athena SWAN Gold, and has held it continuously ever since.
Wednesday 1 May 2019
This week the Department confirmed its place among the UK's most highly regarded departments for the subject of Chemistry. The Department is ranked 4th in the UK in the Complete University Guide 2020.
Friday 26 April 2019
Dr Glenn Hurst, Assistant Professor of Chemical Education in the Department, has been highly commended in the Teaching Excellence category at the Educate North Awards.
Wednesday 24 April 2019
Professor Lucy Carpenter from the Department of Chemistry has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society in recognition of her contribution to science
Tuesday 2 April 2019
A researcher from the Department of Chemistry has been awarded a fellowship to help translate his work into a potential business idea.
Friday 29 March 2019
Professor Lucy Carpenter has been awarded £2m to study how ozone in the lower atmosphere interacts with the sea’s surface from the prestigious Advanced Grant Fund of the European Research Council (ERC).
Thursday 28 March 2019
The annual Johnson Matthey Poster Competition took place on Tuesday 26 March 2019 with thirty of our third-year PhD students presenting their work.
Wednesday 20 March 2019
Dr Glenn Hurst, Assistant Professor of Chemical Education in the Department of Chemistry, has been shortlisted for the Teaching Excellence Award at the Educate North Awards.
Wednesday 20 March 2019
Dr Aimee Clarke presented her research to MPs in the Houses of Parliament at the STEM for Britain event
Wednesday 13 March 2019
Professor Jane Thomas-Oates and Dr Alison Parkin have recently both been recognised with two separate awards for their high quality research, which uses key analytical methods to shed light on important chemical and biological processes.
Thursday 7 March 2019
Dr Glenn Hurst has become a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Tuesday 19 February 2019
Cryo-electron microscopy has provided vital clues to the nature of virus assembly
Tuesday 29 January 2019
Gels self-assembled by simply mixing sustainable, commercially-available ingredients have high conductivities and great potential for use in energy technology.
Wednesday 9 January 2019
Professor Ian Fairlamb has been awarded the 2019 AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer and Syngenta Prize for Process Chemistry Research.
Tuesday 8 January 2019
Green Chemistry first year PhD student Parul Johar has been awarded an ACU Blue Charter fellowship of £10,000.
Thursday 22 November 2018
New theoretical studies predict that S2N2 is the first example of an inorganic ring that can switch its aromaticity on electronic excitation.
Thursday 15 November 2018
Analysis of iodine trapped in Alpine ice has shown that levels of atmospheric iodine have tripled over the past century, which partially offsets human-driven increases in the air pollutant, ozone.
Monday 12 November 2018
Chemistry student shares his longstanding passion for communicating chemistry by suggesting new competition for #RealTimeChem week on Twitter.
Wednesday 7 November 2018
Chemistry receives a share of £100M funding to train the next generation of environmental scientists.
Tuesday 6 November 2018
As part of the UK-Brazil Year of Science and Innovation, Professor Michael North has written an article explaining how researchers in York and Brazil are working together to develop new methods to convert excess carbon dioxide into sustainable materials for battery technologies.
Monday 5 November 2018
Final year MChem student Melissa Davie has been nominated for the inaugural Nova Prize in Chemistry.
Monday 15 October 2018
The Department of Chemistry has been featured by The Royal Society of Chemistry in an article promoting initiatives to support diversity in the workplace.
Tuesday 9 October 2018
Research carried out by York atmospheric chemists was featured on Grand Designs, as a family in South-West London built a low-VOC emitting house.
Monday 8 October 2018
Research carried out in the research groups of Professor Ian Fairlamb and Dr Jason Lynam has developed a new method to probe chemical catalysts.
Wednesday 3 October 2018
Researchers at the University of York and the British Museum have discovered traces of opiates preserved inside a distinctive vessel dating back to the Late Bronze Age.
Tuesday 25 September 2018
The Department of Chemistry has placed 3rd in the latest Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide.
Monday 24 September 2018
Dr Alyssa-Jennifer Avestro has been awarded a Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship and will join the new Molecular Materials research grouping in York.
Friday 21 September 2018
An international research team, led by Professor Marek Brzozowski in the Department of Chemistry, has fully characterised the insulin binding protein from the fruit fly. This provides new insight into human physiology and potential new routes to interfere with insect-transmitted diseases such as malaria and yellow fever.
Wednesday 19 September 2018
Professor Gideon Davies has been awarded the Haworth Memorial Lectureship for his vital contributions to carbohydrate chemistry, and investigations of their biological roles.
Wednesday 12 September 2018
As newly named president of the British Science Association’s Chemistry Section, Dr Jacqui Hamilton will speak on the UK’s dangerously high diesel fuel pollution levels, and the hidden emissions we aren’t yet detecting.
Thursday 6 September 2018
Dr Glenn Hurst has been shortlisted for the Times Higher Education (THE) ‘Most Innovative Teacher of the Year’ award based on his work using social media in new ways to enhance student engagement, understanding and communication.
Thursday 30 August 2018
Professor Andrew Parsons has been awarded a prestigious National Teaching Fellowship by the Higher Education Academy in recognition of his inspirational and innovative approaches to teaching.
Monday 20 August 2018
A new anchoring strategy enables a synthetic catalyst to be bound strongly, yet reversibly, to a protein scaffold, thereby developing an artificial metalloenzyme that benefits from recyclable components.
Monday 13 August 2018
A solvent selection guide developed in collaboration with York’s Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence has been adopted by the ACS Green Chemistry Institute.
Wednesday 8 August 2018
Researchers in the Department of Chemistry will receive EUR 1.5m for vital Tropospheric Chlorine Oxidation work.
Wednesday 1 August 2018
Chemistry confirms its place at the top of the Russell Group in National Student Survey results.
Thursday 26 July 2018
York alumnus, Tim James, has written a popular science book entitled, ‘Elemental: How the Periodic Table Can Now Explain (Nearly) Everything’.
Wednesday 25 July 2018
Teams from the Department of Chemistry won five Green Impact Awards at the most recent ceremony, celebrating the achievements of teams from across the University.
Thursday 19 July 2018
The Department of Chemistry has been featured in the official History of Parliament Trust Vote 100 commemorative album, “Voice and Vote”.
Thursday 12 July 2018
Scientists from the Department of Chemistry are flying their ‘lab-on-an-aeroplane’ through the smoke from wildfires in the North of England to understand the air pollution impact.
Tuesday 3 July 2018
Alice McEllin, one of our 2018 MChem graduates, has received a prestigious Salters’ Graduate Award.
Tuesday 26 June 2018
Scientists from the University of York have been involved in teaching children the importance of air quality as part of World Clean Air Day.
Tuesday 19 June 2018
Pioneering protein chemistry technique provides new insights into Leishmaniasis disease.
Tuesday 12 June 2018
Congratulations to Mark Dowsett who has won the "Graduate Teaching Assistant of the Year" award in the 2018 York University Student Union (YUSU) Excellence Awards.
Wednesday 30 May 2018
The award, which recognises excellence in teaching and learning support, will be conferred at one of the summer degree ceremonies.
Tuesday 29 May 2018
Chemistry holds its place in the top three UK Guardian University ranking.
Tuesday 22 May 2018
Researchers have lab-tested a molecule that can combat the common cold virus by preventing it from hijacking human cells.
Monday 21 May 2018
In a two-day event, York Chemistry celebrated 10 years of holding an Athena SWAN Gold Award, the longest held award at this level.
Thursday 17 May 2018
MSc student Kiri Thornalley, working in the research team of Professor David Smith, has gained a detailed understanding of how self-assembled nanosystems bind biomolecules such as DNA.
Wednesday 9 May 2018
Professor Robin Perutz delivered the ‘Malcolm Green Lecture’ at the University of Oxford.
Tuesday 8 May 2018
During his final year, Khoa Chung, an MChem (Industry) undergraduate student, has been involved in a project at the John Innes Centre, which is now published in Science magazine.
Tuesday 8 May 2018
Three Department of Chemistry academics have been recognised for their contribution to chemistry.
Friday 27 April 2018
A major feature article, published in Chemical Communications, tells the very personal story of research carried out in Professor David Smith’s research team over the past 12 years.
Wednesday 25 April 2018
Chemistry keeps its place in the top 10 UK Complete University Guide rankings.
Thursday 19 April 2018
Dr Liz Dickinson has been featured in the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Voice magazine, highlighting the importance of supporting researchers to return to work after a career break.
Wednesday 11 April 2018
The Johnson Matthey Poster Competition took place on April 10 2018 with over thirty third year PhD students presenting their research.
Tuesday 10 April 2018
Chemistry alumnus Dr Anthony Wild has doubled his annual donation to Wild Fund Scholarships from £100,000 to £200,000 for graduate students entering from 2018/19 onwards.
Friday 9 March 2018
Professor Egid Mubofu, who obtained his PhD in the Green Chemistry Group here at The University of York, has become Vice Chancellor at the University of Dodoma in Tanzania.
Wednesday 28 February 2018
Our Departmental undergraduate Chemistry Admissions newsletter shows what an exciting and successful year we have had.
Tuesday 27 February 2018
Global levels of ethane and propane in the atmosphere have been underestimated by more than 50%, new research involving scientists at the University of York has revealed.
Wednesday 21 February 2018
Four papers published in 2017 from the Shimizu group have been chosen as Hot Papers in three different Royal Society of Chemistry journals (Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, Green Chemistry and Food & Function).
Wednesday 14 February 2018
Dr Meghan Halse has been awarded £210,439 from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to support research on “Lighting up Magnetic Resonance: SABRE optimisation powered by in situ detection”.
Thursday 8 February 2018
Researchers in the Department of Chemistry have discovered a set of enzymes capable of breaking down one of the main components of wood. The enzymes could potentially contribute to the conversion of wood biomass into valuable chemical commodities.
Friday 2 February 2018
The Department of Chemistry has become the first academic department at the University of York to introduce specific ‘all genders welcome’ toilets.
Tuesday 30 January 2018
Scientists from the University of York have developed a new synthetic route that delivers significant quantities of two very important sparteine-based chiral ligands that could help in future development of drug molecules.
Monday 29 January 2018
Scientists at York discuss the role of research in support of the Government's UK Clean Air Strategy.
Friday 19 January 2018
Alumnus and Honorary Fellow of the University of York, Dr Stan Higgins, was recognised in the New Year’s Honours with an OBE for services to the Chemical Process industrial sector.
Friday 19 January 2018
On Wednesday 10 January 2018, over 700 people participated in a day of lively, accessible presentations sampling the great variety of innovative and world-leading research taking place in York.
Monday 15 January 2018
The University of York hosted the UK’s largest ever meeting of LGBT+ (lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender) individuals working in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths).
Tuesday 9 January 2018
Researchers have developed a new way to magnetise molecules found naturally in the human body, paving the way for a new generation of low-cost magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology that would transform our ability to diagnose and treat diseases including cancer, diabetes and dementia.
Friday 5 January 2018
Professor Pratibha Gai has been appointed a Dame for services to chemical sciences and technology.
Thursday 14 December 2017
Dr Will Unsworth and Prof Richard Taylor have been awarded £451,905 from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to support research into “Spiroclip Technology: from Catalogue to Spirocycle in One Step”.
Wednesday 13 December 2017
Researchers from the Department of Chemistry have found a new way of safely trapping the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, as a solid mineral, dawsonite.
Wednesday 6 December 2017
Emeritus Professor John Goodby has been honoured with a special edition of the journal, Liquid Crystals.
Wednesday 29 November 2017
After many years of inspiring our undergraduates in Physical Chemistry, Professor Sir John Holman gave his final lecture to our second year students.
Wednesday 29 November 2017
European estimates of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) directly emitted from vehicles may have been overestimated, according to new analysis of public data by scientists based at the University of York.
Friday 24 November 2017
The Department of Chemistry recently hosted a major national ‘Dial-a-Molecule’ conference on Synthetic Tools for Exploration of 3D Pharmaceutical Space.
Friday 24 November 2017
A final year Chemistry student at the University of York has won Intern of the Year for her innovative work with North Yorkshire Police.
Monday 20 November 2017
At a star-studded event, Professor David Smith of York's Department of Chemistry was nominated for a Gay Times Honour in recognition of his advocacy as an LGBT+ scientist.
Thursday 16 November 2017
Diversity in the chemical sciences was celebrated at a flagship event, hosted by the Royal Society of Chemistry, in collaboration with Athena SWAN Gold Award chemistry departments from the University of York and Imperial College, London.
Wednesday 15 November 2017
An academic in the Department of Chemistry has been recognised as one of the top 10 UK social media superstars in a competition celebrating the excellent social media work being done in Higher Education.
Friday 10 November 2017
Academic staff in the Department of Chemistry shared their excitement over their own research in the first open lecture, organised by ChemSoc, in which undergraduate students could find out more about research carried out in the department.
Wednesday 25 October 2017
Professor Ally Lewis and Dr Sarah Moller from the Wolfson Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratories (WACL) attended a National Environment Research Council (NERC) Parliamentary Reception on Monday 16th October.
Monday 23 October 2017
Dr Will Unsworth, Leverhulme Trust Early career Research Fellow has been awarded the highest monetary incentive from the European Lead Factory.
Monday 23 October 2017
Dr Annie Hodgson recently accompanied five talented A-level science students to attend the 39th International Science School (ISS) in Sydney, Australia.
Wednesday 18 October 2017
Dr Seishi Shimizu, in collaboration with Professor Steven Abbott of TCNF Ltd and Professor Matubayasi of Osaka University, has been measuring how much vanilla, almond or lemon flavour is bound to food macromolecules, which is crucial to understanding food flavour and aroma.
Monday 25 September 2017
Chemistry at York has once again been recognised in the 2018 University League Table published by The Times, with the Department retaining its 4th position.
Monday 25 September 2017
An interdisciplinary team of staff and students from the Departments of Chemistry and Theatre, Film and Television (TFTV) combined their expertise to design and produce the first mobile app to support admissions at in the Department of Chemistry.
Monday 18 September 2017
Dr Jacqueline Hamilton, Reader in the Wolfson Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratories (WACL) has written a piece on the harmful effects of tobacco-smoke residue for The Conversation UK.
Friday 15 September 2017
Scientists in the Department of Chemistry have created a new smart gel that can be shaped by UV light and is able to control the direction in which drugs are released.
Friday 15 September 2017
Researchers in the Department of Chemistry have shown that molecules brought to earth in meteorite strikes could potentially be converted into the building blocks of DNA.
Wednesday 30 August 2017
The Variety in Chemistry Education and Physics Higher Education Conference (ViCEPHEC) is the leading national conference for chemistry and physics education at tertiary level in the UK. This year the conference was held in the Department of Chemistry at the University of York between 23 and 25 August.
Wednesday 30 August 2017
The cover image on the current issue of ChemComm was inspired by the Parkin group’s review of their recent advances in developing a transformative new technique for bioelectrochemistry.
Thursday 24 August 2017
New theoretical studies support the view that C2 has partial quadruple bond character.
Tuesday 22 August 2017
New research from the Smith group has reported innovative new materials that successfully ‘mix up’ four different components, each of which performs a different job in the final gel.