GSK/EPSRC create chair in Sustainable Chemistry at Nottingham University

Published: 4-Jun-2012

Aim to develop Nottingham as key UK centre for sustainability


GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) will jointly contribute to the funding for a chair in Sustainable Chemistry at the planned GSK Carbon Neutral Laboratory for Sustainable Chemistry at the University of Nottingham.

The creation of the post is part of a wider research agenda into sustainability and green chemistry at Nottingham University, and will have a particular focus on research of relevance to the pharmaceutical industry.

The chair will take responsibility for developing and sharing best practice in green chemistry and developing new collaborations with other institutions and industry partners.

Commenting on the announcement, Business Secretary Vince Cable, said: ‘This appointment marks another important step in the establishment of the Carbon Neutral Laboratory for Sustainable Chemistry based at the university, which will hopefully come to play an important role in the development and manufacture of new drugs.’

Sir Andrew Witty, chief executive of GSK, added: ‘We recognise that the success of the Sustainable Chemistry centre being established at the University of Nottingham will rely on the experts running it. That is why we are delighted to collaborate with EPSRC to contribute jointly to the funding of this new chair.’

Within the wider strategic vision for developing Nottingham as a key UK Centre for Sustainable Chemistry, it is anticipated that the holder of this position will demonstrate an interdisciplinary approach to research and fit into one or a number of key thematic areas, which include:

  • Effective use of scarce resources minimising the use of rare metals as catalysts in synthetic chemistry
  • Building understanding of new ways of working for minimum carbon impact
  • New oxidation chemistry using air as the terminal oxidant, including photochemical singlet oxygen chemistry, to remove dependence on metal-based oxidants
  • Pioneering use of new techniques and technologies that minimise energy and maximise reaction efficiency, including flow chemistry

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