Tuesday, 10 February 2026
Professor Sir Martyn Poliakoff from the University of Nottingham has been recognised for his outstanding diplomatic efforts in the field of science with a highly prestigious award.
He has been awarded the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) David and Betty Hamburg Award for Science Diplomacy jointly with Sir Richard Catlow, of University College London and Cardiff University, who he has worked with over many years to promote international collaboration in chemistry. It is the first time that two UK scientists have won this award together.
The award recognises an individual or a small group working together in the scientific, engineering or foreign affairs communities making an outstanding contribution to furthering science diplomacy. First established in 1992 as the International Scientific Cooperation Award, AAAS renamed its Award for Science Diplomacy in 2021 for David and Betty Hamburg, who championed science diplomacy throughout their careers in science and medicine as a means of advancing science, human rights, peace and cooperation.
Professor Poliakoff is a leading UK chemist who has pioneered work in green and sustainable chemistry, conducting research into the use of supercritical fluids (like CO2 and water) as environmentally friendly solvents. He takes his scientific expertise around the world and has spent many years promoting international collaboration at the personal, institutional and national level.
He was made Honorary Member of the Chemical Society of Ethiopia (2008), Foreign Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences (2011) and Honorary Fellow of the Chinese Chemical Society (2015). Besides, he was a Council Member of the Institution of Chemical Engineers (2009-13) and Foreign Secretary and Vice-President of the Royal Society, the UK academy of sciences (2011-16).
Professor Poliakoff gave the first ever lecture on green chemistry in Ethiopia, at a rural high school in 2003. News of this lecture led to a collaboration with chemists in Addis Ababa University, which has been very effective in promoting Green chemistry in Ethiopia and, via the Federation of African Societies of Chemistry (FASC), across the continent. This culminated with the Royal Society of Chemistry holding its first Pan-Africa Green Chemistry Conference in Addis in 2010. For the occasion, Sir Martyn and colleagues formulated the “13 Principles of Green Chemistry and Engineering for GREENER AFRICA.
In 2016 Sir Richard Catlow took over as Foreign Secretary of the Royal Society and unusually for an outgoing Foreign Secretary, Professor Poliakoff offered to support his successor and their collaboration grew.
Another striking diplomatic achievement for Sir Martyn was successfully proposing that 2019, 150 years after Mendeleev’s first publication of his periodic table, should be declared the International Year of the Periodic Table (IYPT). The IYPT brought scientists across the world together to spread the message of chemistry to everyone.
As well as travelling the globe to share his expertise Sir Martyn also took to YouTube as the lead presenter of the Periodic Table of Videos. The channel started more than 17 years ago when scientists in the University of Nottingham’s School of Chemistry started working with filmmaker Brady Haran on their mission to document every single one of the 118 chemical elements in a fun, lively and often unconventional way.
The videos attract a huge international audience with over 1.6 million subscribers currently and each video averaging around 100k views – and these figures keep growing with many new subscribers each day. The videos are inspiring a new generation of young scientists to discover and explore chemistry and fans often make epic journeys to visit Sir Martyn in his office in Nottingham.
I’m delighted to receive this award alongside Sir Richard. I have always been passionate about promoting international collaboration as it is key to furthering scientific endeavour. Through the sharing of knowledge we can reach scientific goals much faster and have greater impact. Working internationally has created many new opportunities and connections and led me to projects like the Periodic Table of Videos where I can bring chemistry to the next generation.
Congratulations to Professor Poliakoff on this well deserved award. Throughout Sir Martyn’s career, he has spread the message of sustainable chemistry and its benefits across the globe stimulating new avenues of research and moving the world closer to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Sir Martyn is an inspiration for our whole university in our work to build strong international relationships to create new opportunities for our students and academics, and I know how proud our staff and students are of him.
Professor Poliakoff and Sir Richard Catlow will be recognised at the 2026 AAAS Annual Meeting, to be held Feb. 12-14 in Phoenix, Arizona, where they will be honoured with a tribute video and award ceremony.
“This year’s award winners embody research excellence, service to their communities and leadership for the next generation of scientists,” said Sudip Parikh, CEO of AAAS and executive publisher of the Science family of journals. “Their stellar example reminds us that we can build a vibrant future for science and technology.”
Story credits
More information is available from Professor Martyn Poliakoff on Martyn.Poliakff@nottingham.ac.uk
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About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 97 in the world and 17th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the third most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2024 report by High Fliers Research. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home. More news…