Leading lights of chemistry community celebrated in 2025 New Year’s Honours

The New Year Honours Lists for 2025 have been published, marking the achievements and service of extraordinary people across the UK.

Amongst the leading members of our community who are recognised in this year’s honours are Professor Gill Reid and Professor Ijeoma Uchegbu.

Professor Gill Reid CChem FRSC FRSE, who receives a CBE in this year’s honours, was president of the Royal Society of Chemistry from 2022 until this year, having been involved in numerous RSC activities, committees and events since becoming a member over thirty years ago. As part of her presidency, Gill tirelessly worked to grow our community all over the world, from China and Brazil to the land of her birth and education, Scotland. During her illustrious career, Gill was Head of Chemistry and Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Southampton.

On receiving her honour, Gill said: “It really is one of my proudest moments to be recognised in this way. That the citation refers to both the Chemical Sciences and Inclusion and Diversity, is significant to me. I firmly believe that we must strive to create a truly inclusive chemistry community that welcomes diversity and inspires young talent to follow careers in chemistry. More than ever, bringing together different talents and experiences is essential to tackle the climate, sustainability and biodiversity challenges that the world faces.

“I would really like to thank my colleagues, collaborators, students and friends from across the chemistry community for all of their contributions over the years and also for making what we do a lot of fun!”

Amongst a long list of achievements and roles, Professor Ijeoma Uchegbu HonFRSC FMedSci is Chief Scientific Officer of Nanomerics Ltd, Professor of Pharmaceutical Nanoscience at University College London, a fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and an honorary fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.  In 2024, Ijeoma took up the position of President of Wolfson College, University of Cambridge having been elected to the position in November 2023. She becomes a Dame in this year’s honours.

In addition to her impressive achievements in research and innovation, Ijeoma became an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2022. She has played a particularly important role in our work on inclusion and diversity – including the Missing Elements research – in line with her work as UCL’s Pro Vice Provost for Africa and the Middle East and UCL Provost’s Envoy for Race Equality.  

Helen Pain said: "I am so proud to see both Gill and Ijeoma receiving honours for all they do in research and teaching in addition to their hugely important work in championing inclusion for all in the chemical sciences. That really speaks to the way they are spearheading the change for the better we have worked so hard to move forward.

"This honour is also testament to Ijeoma's groundbreaking research – using nanoparticles to formulate medicines to help control drug transport around the body – is incredibly promising, so I was honoured to invite her to speak as part of our Annual General Meeting in the summer. Ijeoma plays such an important leadership role in so many aspects of her career, so it is fitting that this honour captures her unique contribution across science."