Prestigious Fellowship for Southampton chemist
Southampton Professor of Chemistry and former Head of Chemistry Professor Gill Reid has been named as one of the 2022 Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) Fellows. Gill is one of 80 people from the arts, business, public service, civil society and academia to join the current 1,700 Fellows who are recognised as being some of the greatest thinkers, researchers and practitioners working in or with Scotland today.
Gill received the prestigious accolade for her research and wider academic activities, alongside her national and international roles. Gill is current President-Elect of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), recently served on the standing committee of Heads of Chemistry UK, as well as on a wide range of chemistry education, examining and programme review panels and funding panels in the UK and beyond. She is a passionate advocate for chemistry and science and has a long-standing interest in outreach to engage and develop the next generation of chemists.
She said: “I am delighted and honoured to have been elected as a Fellow of the RSE, especially given my strong affiliation with Scotland over many years. I have strong roots there having obtained both my undergraduate and PhD degrees in Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh.
“I am hugely proud to have been elected and hope to be able to make valuable contributions to the Society in the coming years.
“I’d also really like to pay tribute to all of my colleagues, postdocs and the students I have worked with in various capacities – whether in research, education or outreach - for their great contributions, dedication and friendship.
“Chemistry is really a ‘team game’, and I have always really enjoyed collaborating with colleagues in the University of Southampton, externally across the UK and internationally and with industry partners, to tackle interesting and challenging problems.”
Gill was Director of Research and Head of School in Chemistry at Southampton, where she oversaw a major investment and refurbishment of the chemistry building and teaching labs, and established chemical engineering in the University.
She said: “I hope that as a Fellow, I will be able to bring value to the RSE in these areas and further these ambitions. I have strong connections with chemistry in Scotland both from my time studying there and more recently through my roles in the RSC and Heads of Chemistry UK.
“It will be great to have the opportunity to engage more strongly with the work going on in the RSE to raise the profile of innovations in science and chemistry, particularly delivering solutions that really will help to make the world a better place. I also want to ensure that young talented pupils and students can appreciate the important and exciting careers available to them in chemistry.”
The RSE is Scotland’s National Academy, whose mission over nearly 250 years has been to deploy knowledge for public good and ensure the nation’s contribution to the global community. This year’s cohort of Fellows represents the diversity of expertise within Scotland and the UK. The RSE hopes this diversity will make even more of an impact across its policy, research and engagement work that seeks to address the key contemporary issues of the day.
Professor Sir John Ball, President of the RSE, said: “It is a privilege to be able to welcome our new Fellows, and we are inspired by the breadth of talent and experience in our Fellowship. Every single individual elected this year has shown exceptional levels of expertise and insight in their chosen field, and their input helps RSE effect real and lasting change in Scotland’s society.
“We look forward to working with our diverse Fellowship who provide a crucial link between the world of academic research and practice with government, business and civil society.”