Announcing our new Honorary Fellows
Every year, the Royal Society of Chemistry welcomes a selection of leading figures from our community as Honorary Fellows. One of our founding by-laws states:
“The Board of Trustees may admit to the Society as an Honorary Fellow any person who is distinguished in the science or profession of chemistry or whom the Board of Trustees may consider it desirable to admit as an Honorary Fellow for any other sufficient reason”.
In the past, we have welcomed renowned and influential people with a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences, from recent additions like Nobel Laureates Professors Frances Arnold and John B. Goodenough to long-standing members of our community and supporters of science communication, including Professor Sir Martyn Poliakoff, Bill Bryson and Heston Blumenthal.
Our 2020 intake of candidates invited and accepted to become Honorary Fellows are:
- Professor Emmanuel I Iwuoha CSci CChem FRSC, Senior Professor of the South African Research Chairs Initiative (Tier 1), University of the Western Cape, South Africa
- Professor Pilar Goya Laza, Research Professor, Institute for Medicinal Chemistry, Madrid and Vice President of the European Chemical Society (EuChemS)
- Professor Tebello Nyokong, Distinguished Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Nanotechnology, Rhodes University, South Africa
Professor Emmanuel I. Iwuoha
Read moreProfessor Emmanuel I. Iwuoha CSci CChem FRSC
Professor Emmanuel I. Iwuoha CSci CChem FRSC is an electrochemist and Professor in South Africa. His academic achievements are exceptional given the transformational landscape in South Africa that he has worked in over the last 20 years.
He has published over 250 papers and graduated over 60 PhD and 70 MSc students and established a world-leading sensor laboratory at the University of the Western Cape in Cape Town (this was the University for people of colour during the Apartheid era). He has been a FRSC since 1999, a Fellow of the African Academy of Science in 2018 and in addition to being on the Editorial board of journals such as Analytical Chemistry and Bioelectrochemistry he has advised South African and international Governments and organisations on a wide range of topics including energy storage and smart sensors. He has won several awards in South Africa and as stated is one of the highest ranked researchers in South Africa. He has given many invited and plenary talks and is without doubt an outstanding scientist and strong advocate for the chemical sciences. However, what distinguishes Iwuoha and makes his case for HonFRSC compelling is his training and support of African scientists at all levels in particular female scientists. Establishing world-class research facilities in a country emerging from Apartheid is no small achievement but the number of students who have gone on to take prominent positions in African institutes and companies is incredible. Their impact as role models and their contribution to scientific development and literacy is a huge legacy. Some examples of Professor Iwuoha’s impact on the chemical sciences are presented.
In January 2001 when Professor Iwuoha started work at UWC as the Professor and Chair of Physical Chemistry, physical chemistry was the most challenging of all the branches of chemistry, with a very low pass rate, which was taken for granted as being the norm. He reformed and modernised the way the course was presented, by linking the practical to the lectures and introducing computational and modelling algorithms that enabled the students to relate properly with hitter-to abstract concepts of physical chemistry and chemical physics. Students with problems were quickly identified and supported by tutors. The consequence was the turnaround of the pass rate in physical chemistry and a significant increase in the number of students who passed BSc III and registered for the BSc Honours programme. The physical chemistry experience, particularly with respect to providing early intervention for identified learning and course challenges, was adopted by the department. It resulted in an improvement in the student throughput and an increase in the number of highly motivated and high self-concept BSc III graduates continuing to BSc Honours programme and later to MSc and PhD studies. The high retention rate and success rate of PhD training in UWC Chemistry Department is traceable to the creation of smart learning accessibility paradigms.
Professor Pilar Goya Laza
Read moreProfessor Pilar Goya Laza
Professor Pilar Goya Laza continues to be an inspiration in her work for EuChemS and promotion of chemistry worldwide.
- PhD Universidad Complutense, Madrid,
- Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship, Konstanz, Germany
- Researcher Institute of Medicinal Chemistry, CSIC. Madrid
- Head of International Affairs, CSIC, 1991-6
- Director Institute of Medicinal Chemistry, 2005-11
- Chair Chemistry Committee Marie Curie Fellowships EU.
- Vice-President, Royal Spanish Chemical Society
- Vice-President, Save the Children, Spain
- Board Member European Federation for Medicinal Chemistry
- President Spanish Society of Medicinal Chemistry
- President European Chemical Society (2018-2020) and Vice President 2017 and 2021
Summary of Achievements
Medicinal chemist Pilar Goya Laza has published over 150 articles and books in the general area of pain relief. Her particular research interest concerns cannabinoids. It is as a towering figure on the International stage that she is being nominated.
Her senior positions in Spanish Chemistry led her to become highly visible in Europe culminating in her being elected President of the European Chemical Society (EuChemS).
During her Presidency of EuChemS, Pilar has presided over the highly successful ECC in Liverpool, the celebrations of the International Year of the Periodic Table (IYPT), the 50th Anniversary celebrations of EuChemS, the introduction of a successful on-line course on Ethics and of European Chemistry Landmarks and the response to Covid-19, including moving all meetings on-line.
For IYPT, Pilar was especially instrumental in celebrating the role of women in the construction of the Periodic Table (International Conference in Murcia) and EuChemS released both a highly successful video game and an internationally acclaimed new version of the Periodic Table highlighting element availability and vulnerability as well as the elements in mobile phones.
Professor Tebello Nyokong
Read moreTebello Nyokong is one of the most distinguished scientists in Africa and is making huge strides with her laser-based alternative to regular chemotherapy.
As Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Nanotechnology at Rhodes University in South Africa, she is a recipient of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Distinguished Woman in Chemistry award. In 2009 she won the L’Oreal UNESCO award for women in science, and was the focus of a special motion passed in the South African National Assembly, recognising her role in the transformation of science in the country.
This has been a monumental journey for a woman who at eight years old, working as a shepherd when not at school, was told to pursue arts and humanities rather than science.
Nyokong studied her first degree in Lesotho, working up to a PhD at the University of Western Ontario in Canada. She then applied for and was given a Fulbright fellowship for post-doctoral study at the University of Notre Dame in the United States. On her return Professor Nyokong taught briefly at the University of Lesotho before joining Rhodes University in 1992 as a lecturer. Where she set up a research laboratory.
It’s at Rhodes that she’s developed her groundbreaking “photodynamic therapy,” which involves “injecting photosensitive molecules into the heart of a tumour,” then exposing these molecules to laser radiation. This process causes a toxic chemical reaction with the oxygen in the cancer cells.
Nyokong is also well known for her activism in science, and challenging education leaders to make science as accessible as possible. She laments that many of the science textbooks use examples that have “nothing to do” with people from South Africa.
Summary of Achievements
Her research has won her many awards including:
2013 “A” rating by the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa and third World Academy of Science (TWAS) Medal;
2012 she was awarded South African Chemical Institute (SACI) Gold Medal, named by IT News Africa as one of the top 10 most influential women in science and technology in Africa, was named one of the 13 NAMES TO CHANGE THE WORLD” by the National Center for Research on Human Evolution (CENIEH), located in Burgos, Spain;
2011 she was awarded: Distinguished Professor at Rhodes University; recognized by Royal Society in Chemistry/Pan African Chemistry Network as a Distinguished Woman in Chemistry, Invited by Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, to be a member of the UNESCO High-level panel on Science, Technology and Innovation for sustainable Development;
2010 she received two honorary doctorates from Walter Sisulu University and the University of South Africa and was inducted into Lesotho Hall of fame;
2009 she was awarded NRF President’s award as Champion for the transformation in research, CEO Most Influential Woman in Business and Government – Education and teaching sector; and L’Oreal-UNESCO award for “Women in Science” as a Laureate representing Africa and the Arab States;
2007 she was recognized by the NRF as one of the top three publishing scientists in South Africa;
2004 she was bestowed with the Order of Mapungubwe: Bronze by the State President of South Africa Mr Thabo Mbeki and she was the winner of SABC2/Shorprite-Checkers Woman of the year in Science and Technology.
She has been involved a number of committees and boards such as:
Member of the CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) Board in South Africa– 2012-2015; a member of the NRF board (2005-2011); jury member for the L'Oreal/UNESCO Regional Fellowships for Women in Science in Sub-Saharan Africa 2011; Judge: Shoprite/Checkers-SABC-2 Woman of the year-Science and Technology (2006-2008); member of Council: University of Lesotho (2005 -2008).
She is the acting Editor in Chief for African Journal of Pure and Applied Chemistry since 2007. She is on the Editorial Board for Global Journal of Physical Chemistry, Journal of Spectroscopy & Dynamics, International Journal of Electrochemical Science and Advanced Materials Letters.
She has acted as a guest Editor for the Special Issue for International Journal of Photoenergy (2011) Special Issue on Photomedicine and Photo Nanosystems and International Journal of Electrochemistry: Special Issue Surface Electrochemistry: Structured Electrode, Synthesis, and Characterization.
She reviews research applications for a number of counties including: France (Agence Nationale de la Recherche), Belgium (Research Foundation Flanders), Czech Republic research foundation projects and Evaluation of Nation Science Foundation (NSF) USA.
She collaborates with many countries on her research including: Japan, China, UK, Belgium, Germany, France, Turkey, USA, Kuwait, Brazil, Romania, Canada.
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