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Vivian Motzfeldt, Greenlandic Minister for Statehood and Foreign Affairs, visited the Scott Polar Research Institute on 14 January. The Minister was accompanied by a delegation from the Government of Greenland and a representative from the British Embassy in Copenhagen. The group were welcomed by Professor Richard Powell, Director of SPRI, and colleagues. The delegation enjoyed tours and discussions about ongoing SPRI research, teaching and collections strategies involving Greenland. It was a very successful visit and all agreed that it would lead to future collaborations.

Writing in The Conversation, Professor Marc Macias-Fauria and J Kristensen (Århus Univ, Denmark) argue that high latitude tree planting will accelerate global warming, considering an article published in Nature Geoscience. Arctic tree planting has been championed to mitigate climate change. But trees planted in the wrong places can make global warming worse. Carbon sequestered and stored by trees is only one aspect of their climatic effects. First, land becomes darker with trees planted on previously open landscapes like the Tundra, absorbing more sunlight. Second, soil carbon (high latitudes' largest carbon reservoir) is mobilised, increasing emissions. Third, these tree plantations are vulnerable to disturbance. Finally, they damage Arctic biodiversity and traditional livelihoods. Other land management options exist involving large herbivores. Ultimately, it is up for Arctic communities to lead on any climate solution affecting their land.

1 January 2025

We are absolutely delighted to share the exciting news that Rachel Oliver has been awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours List 2025.

Professor Rachel Oliver,  is a materials engineer, inventor and commercial spinout founder. A Fellow of Robinson College, she is currently...

Professor John Pyle speaks with Assistant Professor Jenny Zhang at Chemistry Sustainability 'In Conversation' event, courtesy Chemistry Photography.

Dec 18 2024

The shortlist has been announced for the Sustainable Labs Competition, which is seeking innovative ideas on making labs across the university more sustainable.  

Kelly Chibale (centre) with Choonzo Chiyumba and Jeremy Sanders in the department.

Dec 16 2024

Alumnus Kelly Chibale has been elected to an Honorary Fellowship at his alma mater, Queens’ College.

Ruth Webster in the NMR laboratory taken by Nathan Pitt ©University of Cambridge

Jan 15 2025

It’s been a year since Dr Ruth Webster and her group came to our department from the University of Bath. Discover Ruth’s mission is to find sustainable catalysts that speed up essential chemical reactions.

Leah Webster C@C taken by Michael Webb ©University of Cambridge

Jan 22 2025

Dr Leah Webster is developing catalysts for a more sustainable future.

Erwin Reisner delivering his talk: Capturing Sunlight for a Sustainable Future taken by Michael Webb ©University of Cambridge

Jan 10 2025

Recycling plastic waste is difficult and often unprofitable. Reisner group spinout Protonera has the perfect solution. 

John Pyle speaks with Jenny Zhang about his research, courtesy Chemistry Photography

Nov 28 2024

Chemistry Sustainability held its first "In Conversation" event in November, which featured an intimate conversation between Emeritus Professor John Pyle CBE FRS and Assistant Professor Jenny Zhang.

27 November 2024

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Widespread misunderstanding exists about how airborne tyre emissions contribute to air pollution, photo courtesy Siriel Saladin

Nov 25 2024

Widespread misunderstandings about the contribution of tyre wear to air pollution have crept into government reports in the UK, EU and US and could wrongly influence critical policy decisions.

Professor Jason Chin receives his honorary degree in a ceremony at ETH, photo courtesy ETH/Alessandro Della Bella

Nov 14 2024

Professor Jason Chin has received an honorary doctorate from ETH Zurich to honour his outstanding achievements in the field of synthetic biology.

Professor Jonathan Nitschke

Nov 11 2024

Professor Jonathan Nitschke has been awarded the 2024 Supramolecular Chemistry Award for his contributions to macrocyclic and supramolecular chemistry.

Dr Ben Pilgrim, who now holds a Royal Society URF at the University of Nottingham, was a Herchel Smith scholar in the Nitschke Group.

Nov 11 2024

We are inviting applications for a Herchel Smith Research Fellowship in organic or biological chemistry, to start in October 2025.

Writing in the journal Nature Geoscience, an international group of scientists led by researchers at the University of Århus and the University of Cambridge, argue that tree planting at high latitudes will accelerate, rather than decelerate, global warming. As climate continues to warm, trees can be planted further and further north, and large-scale tree-planting projects in the Arctic have been championed as a way to mitigate the worst effects of climate change. However, when trees are planted in the wrong places - such as normally treeless tundra and mires, as well as large areas of the boreal forest with relatively open tree canopies - they can make global warming worse.

29 October 2024

Congratulations to the Di Martino Lab who had their work officially recognised with a Bronze LEAF Award for sustainability in recognition of exemplary actions undertaken to improve the sustainability practices as part of the laboratory efficiency assessment framework (LEAF)....

PhD student James Simon in his lab, courtesy The Faraday Institution.

Oct 23 2024

From growing up in South Wales to his current role enabling sustainable energy storage through his work as a PhD researcher on the Faraday Institution Science of Battery Safety (SafeBatt) project, James Simon's journey is a compelling tale.

Image courtesy University of Cambridge

Oct 23 2024

This department is part of a new University of Cambridge MPhil Programme which will deliver training related to the development of new materials for the transition to a low-carbon society.

David Watson at his retirement party in 2005, courtesy Chemistry photography

Oct 21 2024

We are sorry to announce the death of David Watson, who was a member of the department for 47 years.

18 October 2024

We are delighted to highlight that Prof Bartomeu Monserrat has been awarded a Philip Leverhulme Prize for his work on computational physics, computational materials science, electronic structure, and energy materials.
Tomeu has proposed a new mathematical formulation to the solution of the...