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Professor
Martyn Poliakoff, a renowned professor at The University of Nottingham, has been
knighted in the Queen’s New Year Honours 2015.
Professor
Poliakoff received the honour for services to Chemical Sciences in recognition of
his contribution as a global leader in green and sustainable chemistry. The
honour is also in recognition for him acting as an ambassador for UK Science in
his role as Vice-President
and Foreign Secretary of the Royal Society, which is an illustration of the
esteem in which he is held by his fellow academics.
Professor
Poliakoff is already a familiar face to millions of YouTube followers around
the world, after he was featured in a series of videos dedicated to each and
every one of the 118 chemical elements, which became an overnight sensation.
The Periodic Table of Videos
The Periodic Table of Videos, which
have brought chemistry to a whole new audience, were launched in 2008 and have
now been viewed by more than 80million people. In 2011 the videos earned him
the Royal Society of Chemistry’s prestigious Nyholm Prize for Education.
As
well as inspiring would-be scientists and chemistry enthusiasts through a range
of exciting experiments showing the properties of all the chemical elements,
Professor Poliakoff has picked up his own band of faithful followers who has
been charmed by his eccentric hairstyle and outlandish chemistry-themed ties.
You can see a film about Professor Poliakoff's award on the Periodic Table of Videos website.
Deserved recognition
Professor
Poliakoff said: “I feel both honoured and somewhat overwhelmed.
"I see the award very much as recognition of
all the work being done in green and sustainable chemistry in the School of
Chemistry by my colleagues, by my research team and by our technical staff
whose efforts underpin so much of our research.”
Professor Sir
David Greenaway, Vice-Chancellor of The University of Nottingham, said: “What a
richly deserved accolade. Sir Martyn contributes so much as a research leader,
educator and communicator of science to the wider public.
"He will receive this
honour with his customary modesty, but will be surprised at how widely
applauded it is. We are very proud to have him as a colleague.”
— Ends —
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Notes to editors: The University of Nottingham has 43,000 students and is ‘the nearest Britain has to a truly global university, with campuses in China and Malaysia modelled on a headquarters that is among the most attractive in Britain’ (Times Good University Guide 2014). It is also the most popular university in the UK among graduate employers, in the top 10 for student experience according to the Times Higher Education and winner of ‘Research Project of the Year’ at the THE Awards 2014. It is ranked in the world’s top one per cent of universities by the QS World University Rankings.
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