Core capability for Chemistry Research
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Chemistry
Abstract
The National Importance of a vibrant and successful university Chemistry research sector cannot be underestimated. The RSC's report on the Economic Benefits of Chemistry showed that the UK's upstream chemicals industry and downstream chemistry-using sectors contributed a combined total of £258 billion in added-value in 2007, equivalent to 21% of UK GDP, and supported over 6 million UK jobs. This output is underpinned by some of the world's most successful University Chemistry research, reflecting the fruits of many years of investment. On-going fundamental research is essential, not only to maintain a continuing flow of scientific and technological breakthroughs, but also to ensure that the UK maintains a highly skilled and innovative workforce; it is through these trained people that the UK will adopt and advance new ideas, successfully exploit new technologies, and develop new and better products and services. The ability to develop and exploit chemically-derived technology will fuel economic activity, and is a necessary condition for attracting inward investment to the UK. The RSC report also showed that the quality of UK chemists and the reputation for excellence of the UK's university chemical science base significantly influences companies in decisions to locate within the UK, or to retain a UK-based research presence.
Imperial College is an internationally leading centre for research, education and translation. It is the only UK higher education institution to focus exclusively on science, engineering, medicine and business. The College is renowned both for world-class fundamental research and for the translation of this research to benefit society and the economy; this combination was indeed defined as a core part of the College's mission at its foundation in 1907. Its research strengths reflect its focus on fundamental underpinning science and cover the breadth of engineering and the physical sciences. The College currently holds 270 research grants totalling over £285M that have been through the EPSRC's peer review process; these include 11 Programme Grants and 12 Platform Grants.
The equipment requested is to underpin the above activity.
Imperial College is an internationally leading centre for research, education and translation. It is the only UK higher education institution to focus exclusively on science, engineering, medicine and business. The College is renowned both for world-class fundamental research and for the translation of this research to benefit society and the economy; this combination was indeed defined as a core part of the College's mission at its foundation in 1907. Its research strengths reflect its focus on fundamental underpinning science and cover the breadth of engineering and the physical sciences. The College currently holds 270 research grants totalling over £285M that have been through the EPSRC's peer review process; these include 11 Programme Grants and 12 Platform Grants.
The equipment requested is to underpin the above activity.
Planned Impact
Please see Pathways to Impact
Organisations
Publications
Ashley AE
(2013)
FLP-mediated activations and reductions of CO2 and CO.
in Topics in current chemistry
D'Arcy M
(2013)
Adsorption of Oxy-Anions in the Teaching Laboratory: An Experiment To Study a Fundamental Environmental Engineering Problem
in Journal of Chemical Education
Braddock DC
(2013)
Epoxidation of bromoallenes connects red algae metabolites by an intersecting bromoallene oxide--Favorskii manifold.
in Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)
Craig D
(2013)
Aziridine-based concise synthesis of (±)-alstonerine.
in Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)
Braddock DC
(2013)
An enantiospecific polyene cyclization initiated by an enantiomerically pure bromonium ion.
in Chirality
Casey D
(2014)
Amphiphilic drug interactions with model cellular membranes are influenced by lipid chain-melting temperature
in Journal of The Royal Society Interface
Braddock DC
(2014)
Proof-of-principle direct double cyclisation of a linear C15-precursor to a dibrominated bicyclic medium-ring ether relevant to Laurencia species.
in Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)
Gong X
(2014)
Label-free in-flow detection of single DNA molecules using glass nanopipettes.
in Analytical chemistry
Ab Rani M
(2014)
The potential of methylsiloxanes as solvents for synthetic chemistry applications
in Green Chem.
| Description | Chemistry is the study and application of the science at the molecular scale. It provides some of the most basic understandings of how the world works and underpins many modern technologies. It provides both the most mundane of objects, such as the disposable cup that holds you coffee, and the most vital compounds, such as life-saving drugs. Chemistry relies on four core instrumental techniques to study molecules; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Mass Spectrometry, X-Ray Crystallography and molecular scale Microscopy. This grant gave the Chemistry Department at Imperial College the ability to update these facilities. These have enabled research in all areas of Chemistry, for example the building of artificial cells, the production of fuels from biomass to the development of new potential pharmaceuticals and diagnostic techniques. There are too many to list. |
| Exploitation Route | There are many ways in which these results can be put to use in the wider world. |
| Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals,Energy,Environment,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology,Security and Diplomacy,Transport |
| Description | Policy Briefing Document |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Author of policy briefing document: Using Carbon Dioxide |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Presentation to stakeholders |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Laura Barter was invited to the World Economic Forum in Davos to present her research investigating methods for increasing crop yields by promoting more efficient photosynthesis in the session on "Engineering Intelligent Food Systems". |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Radio Interview |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | BBC World Service's The Why Factor (8 February) on "Why is Water Exceptional?" |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Radio Interview |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Andrew Ashley interviewed on BBC Radio 4's Inside Science explaining his group's recent discovery in N2 fixation |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Schools activity |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Salters Festival of Chemistry: Annual Salters Festival. Y7 and Y8 many schools attend with their teachers to undertake two chemistry-based challenges |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Stakeholder meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Laura Barter, Rudiger Wolcholski and Sarah Al-Beidh organised a Creativity and Ideas generation event for the Sainsbury's farming scholars which was also attended by Sainsbury's horticulture manager, academics from Imperial, Natural History Museum and other UK institutions. Followed by attending the Annual Sainsbury's Farming Conference to highlight the success of the Sainsbury's Farming Scholars Programme - a recent collaboration between Imperial College, AGRI-net and Sainsbury's. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016 |
| Description | UK Chemicals Stakeholder Forum. Presentation on measuring sustainability |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Presentation and discussion on sustainability metrics |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | World Economic Forum meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Prof David Klug introduced the "Hyperconnected Healthcare" panel at the World Economic Forum meeting in Dalian and participated as a panel member. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |