Recognising those who support our work
Our Awards for Service and our Inspirational Member Awards recognise those who have gone the extra mile to support our work.
Inspirational Member Awards 2018
Our Inspirational Member Awards recognise members who have been instrumental in driving and delivering activities that have had a demonstrable impact on their community.
Dr Stephen Ashworth CChem FRSC, East Anglia Local Section & University of East Anglia
For his outstanding dedication to inspiring school students and the public as The Kitchen Chemist both in the local section and beyond.
Stephen has served on the committee of his local section for many years, culminating in his time as chair. Under his leadership the local section does a wonderful job of satisfying the needs of a very diverse East Anglia community. Stephen also has a tremendous impact in the wider community, as "The Kitchen Chemist". In this role he seeks to both demystify and delight potential chemists through the medium of familiar materials, and has brought his show to audiences around the world.
Professor David Evans OBE CSci CChem FRSC, Beijing Local Section & Beijing University of Chemical Technology
For his dedication to the popularisation of chemistry through demonstration lectures and hands-on practicals in schools, science fairs and festivals throughout China.
David is a professor in the State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, at Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BUCT), having moved there in 1996. David has devoted much of his time to popularizing science to school students and the public at large, with an emphasis on learning through experiments. In 2015, BUCT set up a brand new chemistry outreach centre to support David’s outreach activities. Postgraduates in the RSC–BUCT student club are also trained to deliver the activities, enhancing their skills and future employability.
Dr Lakshmy Ravishankar AMRSC, West India Local Section & Vaze College, Mumbai
For her role as an enthusiastic advocate for the importance of research and the chemical sciences, through news articles in national media and working locally to broaden the horizons of students.
Lakshmy has been advocating the importance of research and bringing much needed enthusiasm in inspiring young minds towards a career in chemical sciences for the past 30 years. She has contributed to the popularisation of chemistry through articles in leading national dailies, and through workshops, and she has been instrumental in organizing career events at her institute including the ChemCareer events organized by the Royal Society of Chemistry. She has also accompanied the Indian International Chemistry Olympiad team as a mentor.
Dr Graeme Turnbull CSci CChem MRSC, Newcastle and North East Coast Local Section & Northumbria University
For his dedication to the promotion of chemistry at a local level through the provision of diverse and accessible activities as part of the local section, Analytical Division Region and as an Early Career Representative. For his role at a strategic level as a member of the regional steering group, member networks committee and the Membership and Qualifications Board.
Graeme has shown exceptional dedication to the promotion of chemistry and to Royal Society of Chemistry members over a decade. He is an experienced committee member of the Newcastle upon Tyne and North East Coast Local Section and recently joined the Membership and Qualifications Board. Graeme is also a committee member of our regional Analytical Division for whom he is a coordinator of the Junior Analyst Competition.
Dr John Woodland AMRSC, South Africa (South) Local Section & University of Cape Town
For his positive impact through his plays promoting the chemical sciences, and ensuring that the performances were accessible to children from all parts of the local community.
John has served on the South Africa (South) Local Section committee since 2014. As a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Cape Town, John has made a demonstrable impact on the local chemistry community. He has co-written and co-directed three plays for schoolchildren with titles such as “Harry Potter and the Molecule of Doom”. John also spearheaded an initiative to stage a special performance for children from the less privileged areas of Cape Town, exposing a more diverse audience to the thrill of chemistry.
Inspirational Committee Awards 2018
Chemical Education Research Group committee
For revitalising the Chemical Education Research Group of the Royal Society of Chemistry and improving the engagement and activities available to members of their community.
Deccan Local Section committee
For inspiring the next generation to engage with the chemical sciences through the organisations of a diverse range of educational activities and raising the profile of local female scientists.
Awards for Service 2018
Our Awards for Service recognise outstanding non-academic service to the work of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Dr Ingeborg Buschmann MRSC, Merchant Taylors’ School
Awarded for her outstanding service to the Liverpool Local Section Committee, and for her pivotal role in running the Liverpool Section Heats for the Top of the Bench Competition.
Ingeborg has been a dedicated and inspirational member of the Liverpool Local Section committee for many years, and has been running the Liverpool Section heats for the Top of Bench competition, for many years. She almost single-handedly arranges three separate sub-heats to ensure that schools in Liverpool, Wirral and the Isle of Man can all have an opportunity to take part. The huge amount of time and work she puts in ensures a really enjoyable experience for all involved.
Mrs Pam Day CChem MRSC, Retired
Awarded for her outstanding support of the Royal Society of Chemistry, including as a member of the Bristol and District Local Section committee, and on the Benevolent Fund grant committee.
Pam attends careers fairs to highlight the work of the Royal Society of Chemistry and has been an active member of the Bristol and District Local Section committee, including as chair and secretary. Her desire to support members has led her to completing two terms on the Benevolent Fund grant committee. During this time she has been a keen advocate for new ways of supporting members through dark periods in their lives. She also provides an informal support network for older members of the local section.
Mrs Suzanne Finney CSci CChem FRSC, BMR Impala Platinum Ltd.
Awarded for her outstanding service to the South Africa (North) Local Section.
Suzanne joined the Royal Society of Chemistry as a student whilst still at university in the UK. She became involved in section activities in 2004 as an ordinary member of the committee, and served as section secretary from 2006–2011. She has been treasurer since 2013. A great ambassador for chemistry, Suzanne has been heavily involved in all section activities, in particular judging at the annual Eskom Science Expo and the SACI Young Chemists events.
Dr Stephen D Robinson FRSC, Retired
Awarded for his outstanding service to the RSC Chilterns and Middlesex Local section committee.
Stephen first joined the local section committee in 1988 and has served as both treasurer and chair. He has organised mini symposia in London University colleges and lecture series for school students, and has supported and organised events for retired members within the section. Through the Top of the Bench competitions, Stephen has worked tirelessly to widen participation in all activities offered by the Royal Society of Chemistry, including the Daniell lectures at King's College London, the Newlands Lecture for school children at Imperial College London, Chem @Work and many more.
Professor Christine Willis FRSC, University of Bristol
Awarded for her outstanding service on numerous Royal Society of Chemistry committees over more than 25 years.
Chris has served the Royal Society of Chemistry in many capacities, beginning as secretary to the young Bio-organic Subject Group, and has served on numerous Royal Society of Chemistry committees, including the Perkin Council. She chaired and oversaw allocation of research fund grants for two years, and served on the joint RSC/EPSRC committee on the future of chemistry. She has recently completed three years as chair of the Heterocyclic and Synthesis Group, overseeing the organization of two highly successful “Lakeland Conferences”. She is currently an elected member of Organic Division Council.
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