Royal Society of Chemistry Inspirational Member Award 2019

Dr Jonathan Rourke, a Reader in Chemistry at Cardiff University, was nominated by his peers for his outstanding contribution to proactively and inclusively supporting his colleagues and the wider scientific community.

Receiving the award, Dr Rourke, of the Dalton Joint Interest Group Meeting, said: “I was very pleased to receive this award – it’s gratifying to get some “official” recognition of the value of what we did.

“All the hard work Prof Mike George and I did in setting up the original meeting has definitely been worthwhile. The initial support from Prof Peter Tasker and the David Cole-Hamilton has helped the Dalton meetings to become the largest UK-based inorganic chemistry conference. I would like to thank them for the role they played too.”

As well as being named winner of the award, Dr Rourke also receives a trophy.

Dr Robert Parker, chief executive of the Royal Society of Chemistry said: “This award really is about celebrating the efforts of the unsung heroes who go above and beyond to support their colleagues and our wider community. It is for this reason we’re exceptionally proud to be presenting this award to Dr Rourke.

“Not only is this award recognition of an outstanding effort, but this serves as inspiration to colleagues through the chemical sciences community to do what they can for the people around them.”

The Royal Society of Chemistry’s Inspirational Member Award recognises and celebrates the creative and inspirational individual members and committees that are proactively and inclusively supporting their peers and the wider community.