University of Warwick Chemists pick up three RSC Prizes

The University of Warwick has been awarded three prizes from this year's Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) prize portfolio.

The Royal Society of Chemistry’s Prizes portfolio is one of the oldest and most prestigious in the world, recognising achievements by individuals, teams and organisations in advancing the chemical sciences. They reward those undertaking excellent work in the chemical sciences from across the world.

Warwick's prize winners include:

The We are Chemistry (WaC) programme has been named winner of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Inclusion and Diversity Prize, which honour those working to enhance accessibility, inclusivity, and diversity in the chemical sciences.

The WaC programme has won the award for the development of an impactful integrated engagement programme transforming student success through building equitable, inclusive networks, empowering underrepresented groups, and establishing sector-leading practices in student partnership.

The group, which is pushing for greater inclusivity in science, will receive £1,666.67 and a medal. To help others learn from their experiences, they will also be the subjects of a special video showcasing their work.

The programme was created by a team from Warwick's Department of Chemistry where students and staff work as equal partners to build an inclusive culture that engages all students, empowers diverse voices, and fosters community trust.

Built on four pillars - Feel Good, Have Fun, Learn More, and Get Active - WaC seamlessly integrates wellbeing, social connection, academic support, and leadership into the student experience. The team pioneered a 'high-value, low fixed-cost, by stealth' approach that transforms traditional support activities into engaging opportunities that naturally facilitate meaningful connections while maximising impact with limited resources and time.

WaC's innovative 'interest-based' approach empowers historically underrepresented groups by creating spaces that authentically reflect their needs, resulting in successful initiatives like Women in Chemistry and the Warwick Black Chemistry Society. Through more than 200 activities engaging 20,000 participants since 2022, the WaC programme has significantly improved recruitment, retention, and student engagement across all aspects of chemistry education.

This model has influenced university-wide practice, forming the foundation for Warwick's Building Belonging Framework and Student Engagement Toolkit, demonstrating how authentic partnership creates environments where diverse students thrive.

While developed in a chemistry context, the WaC model's principles of equal partnership, authentic co-creation, and interest-based engagement provide a blueprint for transforming student experiences across all disciplines in higher education.

After receiving the prize, Dr Tom Ritchie, Reader and Director of Student Experience, University of Warwick (photo - right) said: “We are deeply honoured to receive this recognition for our work on the 'We are Chemistry' programme. This award affirms our belief that authentic partnership between students and staff creates the most meaningful and inclusive educational environments.

“What makes this particularly special is that it validates an approach where students aren't just consulted but genuinely co-create their university experience.

"Seeing our student partners grow in confidence and leadership has been the true reward of this work. This prize acknowledges that when we trust students as equal partners, the results benefit everyone – from improved retention and academic outcomes to a more vibrant departmental culture.”

University of Warwick Platform Manager, Dr Jack Woolley has been named winner of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Technical Excellence Prize in recognition of brilliance in research and innovation.

Dr Woolley won the prize for providing outstanding technical and scientific support to users of the Warwick Centre for Ultrafast Spectroscopy, enabling many researchers to conduct impactful science. and receives £3,000 and a trophy.

After receiving the prize, Dr Jack Woolley, Platform Manager, Research Technology Platforms, Warwick Centre for Ultrafast Spectroscopy said: “I'm shocked to be a prize winner. Warwick and every institution are full of amazing technicians enabling research every day, so it’s a real honour.”

"Light interacts with materials everywhere. In the laboratory, we use pulses of light a millionth of millionth of a second in length to look at what materials and molecules do when they absorb the energy from the light – by doing this we can learn about the properties of the material. We can then tailor the design of materials and molecules for better results. We have used these techniques to look at everything from the effects of UV light on DNA to the next generation of solar harvesting materials."

The BoostCrop team, which originated at Warwick and still involves many Warwick staff including: Ed Greenough, James Lloyd Hughes, Adrian Fowle and Jack Woolley, has been named winner of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Horizon Prizes, which celebrate discoveries and innovations that push the boundaries of science.

The European research collective has won the Faraday Horizon Prize for the development of a library of biocompatible molecules that can on application harness solar UV energy and enhance crop growth. The Warwick

The group, which is made up of academics and consultants, will receive a trophy, while each team member will also get their own special individual token. To help others learn from their experiences, they will also be the subjects of a special video showcasing the fruits of their labour.

The BoostCrop team have pioneered the development of a library of biocompatible molecules that harness solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation. These molecules are applied onto plants as a water-based foliar spray. They then absorb UV radiation, convert this to heat and provide the crop with supplementary heat thereby encouraging successful crop growth in cooler geographical regions and helping mitigate against sudden daytime frost damage.

After receiving the prize, Professor Vasilios Stavros, who established the BoostCrop team during his time as Professor of Chemistry at University of Warwick, said: “I am delighted that Team BoostCrop has been awarded one of the RSC’s Horizon Prizes. The BoostCrop project has been an incredible journey through which we have demonstrated how blue-skies research can potentially have massive impact on society. It has been a privilege to work this amazing team of researchers.

"Food security is a growing area of concern, with the United Nations listing it as part of their Sustainable Development Initiatives. To improve food security, current harvests must be enhanced.

"Frost damage alone is estimated to cost Europe €3.3 billion per annum in reduced harvests; BoostCrop brought together a multidisciplinary team to tackle this very important problem head on. We believe we have made a small but very important contribution to this sustainable development initiative.”

ENDS

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

About the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC):

The RSC is an international organisation connecting chemical scientists with each other, with other scientists, and with society as a whole. Founded in 1841 and based in London, UK, the RSC has an international membership of more than 60,000 chemical scientists. They use the surplus from our global publishing and knowledge business to give thousands of chemical scientists the support and resources required to make vital advances in chemical knowledge. They develop, recognise and celebrate professional capabilities, and they bring people together to spark new ideas and new partnerships. They support teachers to inspire future generations of scientists, and they speak up to influence the people making decisions that affect us all. They are a catalyst for the chemistry that enriches our world.

About the RCS Prize Portfolio

The Royal Society of Chemistry’s prizes have recognised excellence in the chemical sciences for more than 150 years. This year’s winners join a prestigious list of past winners in the RSC’s prize portfolio, 60 of whom have gone on to win Nobel Prizes for their work, including 2022 Nobel laureate Carolyn Bertozzi and 2019 Nobel laureate John B Goodenough.

Inclusion & Diversity Prizes are awarded to recognise and celebrate an individual or team whose innovative approaches/initiatives have delivered impact in improving the accessibility, inclusivity and diversity of the chemical science community. These prizes are for groups, teams and collaborations of any form or size. This year, three separate initiatives have split the £5,000 prize fund. Other prize categories include those for Research & Innovation, those for Education (announced in November), Horizon Prizes, and Volunteer Recognition Prizes.

For more information about the RSC’s prizes portfolio, visit rsc.li/prizes.

Dr Helen Pain, Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Chemistry, said: “The chemical sciences cover a rich and diverse collection of disciplines, from fundamental understanding of materials and the living world, to applications in medicine, sustainability, technology and more. By working together across borders and disciplines, chemists are finding solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

“Our prize winners come from a vast array of backgrounds, all contributing in different ways to our knowledge base, and bringing fresh ideas and innovations. We recognise chemical scientists from every career stage and every role type, including those who contribute to the RSC’s work as volunteers. We celebrate winners from both industry and academia, as well as individuals, teams, and the science itself.

“Their passion, dedication and brilliance are an inspiration. I extend my warmest congratulations to them all.”