The Department of Chemistry is thrilled to announce that Professor Laura Gagliardi has been awarded the esteemed Solvay Chair in Chemistry for 2025. This prestigious honor, bestowed by the International Solvay Institutes in Belgium, recognizes scientists who have made exceptional contributions to the field.
Founded by the industrialist Ernest Solvay in the early 20th century, the Solvay Institutes are renowned for their historic Solvay Conferences, which have shaped the course of physics and chemistry for over a century. These conferences have played a pivotal role in the development of quantum theory and continue to foster groundbreaking discoveries. The Solvay Chair in Chemistry (also known as ""Syensqo Chair in Chemistry""), established in 2008, upholds this tradition of recognizing scientific excellence.
Prof. Gagliardi now joins a distinguished group that includes Nobel Laureates and pioneers such as Richard R. Schrock, Richard Henderson, Ben Feringa, E.W. Meijer, Joanna Aizenberg, and Omar M. Yaghi. Her own groundbreaking work in theoretical and computational chemistry, particularly on electronic structure methods for complex chemical systems, has earned her international acclaim and highlights her leadership and impact on the world of chemistry.
As part of the awardship, Prof. Gagliardi will deliver lectures and lead discussions on the following dates
Inaugural lecture on 28 January 2025
Second lecture on 18 February 2025
Third lecture on 2 September 2025
Fourth lecture on 28 October 2025