Chemical Landmarks (RSC Blue Plaques)

With the support of family, friends, teachers and peers, AP challenged cultural expectations and overcame the lack of opportunities in chemistry available in Sri Lanka in the early 1970s, and first moved to Belfast in 1976 to pursue a PhD in photochemistry at Queen’s University Belfast. AP’s work on molecular sensors (both in Belfast and Colombo) was inspired by his grandmother’s struggle with high blood pressure.

Through his international collaborations was born a commercial, portable and practical sodium sensor that is used in the field and healthcare settings to this day, that has saved countless lives and improved healthcare around the world.

Plaque awarded: 2024 - read about the unveiling

Location: Queen’s University Belfast, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, David Keir Building, Stranmillis Road, Belfast, BT9 5AG, UK

Dorothy suffered from chronic rheumatoid arthritis from her late twenties which made manipulating scientific equipment difficult. Despite these significant health difficulties, Dorothy balanced her health, family life and research. She advanced the X-ray crystallography technique - the key to studying and understanding the structures of biochemical compounds – and was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1964 for her work determining the structure of vitamin B12 and penicillin.

Plaque awarded: 2001

Location: Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford

Their early research took place in converted houses due to wartime city centre damage.

In 1965, the team had a breakthrough drug trial. It compared the compound now known as ibuprofen against aspirin for easing pain.

Four years later Boots launched "Brufen" as a prescription painkiller. By 1983 it was available over the counter becoming the first new non-prescription painkiller introduced since paracetamol in the mid-1950s and only the third since aspirin in 1915. Today a pack of ibuprofen is sold by Boots every two seconds. In the UK alone, annual sales reach over £150 million.

Plaque awarded: 2013

Location 1: BioCity Nottingham, Pennyfoot Street, Nottingham

Location 2: Building D6, Boots Beeston Factory Site, Dunkirk Industrial Estate, 1 Thane Road, Nottingham

Instead, many scientists uncovered more and more about it from 1869-1953, culminating in the discovery of the famous double helix.

This Royal Society of Chemistry plaque on The Strand in London celebrates the group of scientists whose X-ray diffraction images of crystallized DNA were key to solving the mystery of its chemical structure which has subsequently brought far-reaching technological advancements and understanding across health, agriculture and animal and forensic science.

Plaque awarded: 2003

Location: Strand Campus, King's College London

Elsie's research interests developed into animal and human biochemistry. She headed up wartime research that saw vitamins added to food and shaped the second world war rations programme. She also improved infant formula milk in the 1980s. Widdowson’s nutrition experiments in orphanages are famous for demonstrating how a child’s emotional state can affect growth. Women researchers at Imperial College today can apply for an Elsie Widdowson award to help balance research with family life.

Plaque awarded: 2009

Location: MRC Elsie Widdowson Laboratory (formerly MRC Human Nutrition Research)

Scientists confirmed the link between toxic smog and car fumes in the 1970s and new laws around car emissions followed. Johnson Matthey PLC had already begun developing the world’s first commercial autocatalysts. Since then it has developed catalysts and filters for petrol and diesel vehicles that have stopped billions of tonnes of car pollutants entering the air from car exhausts.

Plaque awarded: 2014

Location: Johnson Matthey PLC, Orchard Road, Royston, Hertfordshire