UNSW Clinches Two Top Honors at the 2025 RACI National Awards
Two researchers from UNSW Science’s School of Chemistry have earned prestigious recognition at the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) National Awards 2025. The wins highlight UNSW’s strength in translating chemistry into real-world solutions—ranging from life-saving biomedical advances to affordable, clean energy technologies. The school congratulated Professors Pall Thordarson and Chuan Zhao for their standout contributions to chemical sciences, underscoring UNSW’s commitment to science that serves society.
Award-Winning Research: Pall Thordarson’s Leighton Memorial Medal
Professor Pall Thordarson, a leader in supramolecular chemistry and nanotechnology, was awarded the Leighton Memorial Medal—RACI’s signature honour for eminent services to chemistry in Australia. The award recognises exceptional leadership, groundbreaking research, and the advancement of chemical sciences. Thordarson’s career, which began in organic chemistry and the study of carbon-based molecules—the building blocks of life—reflects a fascination with the chemistry-biology interface. He describes life itself as the ultimate complex chemical system, a view that has driven his work for decades.
Through pioneering approaches in supramolecular chemistry and nanoscale engineering, Thordarson has helped create technologies that impact health and materials science. Notable outcomes include smart gels and biodevices that can enhance cancer therapies by targeting tumours while reducing chemotherapy side effects. He has also guided the development of more sensitive biosensors for medical applications. In his role as Director of the UNSW RNA Institute, Australia’s leading hub for RNA research, Thordarson oversees collaborations across biology, chemistry, and medicine aimed at RNA technologies and therapeutics, vaccines, and disease treatments.
Reacting to the honour, Thordarson spoke about chemistry’s central role in life and the world around us. He framed chemistry as a universal language that explains how materials, medicines, and even nutrition are all connected through chemical processes. “Chemistry is life,” he has often said, emphasizing that understanding chemical principles enables us to improve health, sustainability, and quality of life.
Award-Winning Research: Chuan Zhao’s Applied Research Award for Green Hydrogen Tech
Professor Chuan Zhao earned RACI’s Applied Research and Innovation Award for his contributions to low-cost catalysts and electrochemical methods designed to produce hydrogen fuel from renewable energy sources. Zhao’s work aims to slash the cost of green hydrogen by using abundant, inexpensive metals—such as nickel and iron—in catalysts that can replace precious metals like platinum and iridium. He and his team have developed a suite of electrochemical materials and strategies that improve the efficiency of water electrolysis, a key step in generating hydrogen without emitting carbon dioxide.
The impact of Zhao’s research extends beyond the lab. His 3D-electrode technology has become a benchmark for laboratories worldwide and is widely adopted by the hydrogen industry to reduce production costs. The award signals a broader push toward scalable, affordable clean energy technologies that support Australia’s transition to a net-zero economy and global decarbonisation goals.
“Developing catalysts from common elements is essential to making green hydrogen economically viable,” Zhao said. “By enabling scalable, affordable hydrogen production, we contribute to a cleaner energy future.” His work has already inspired spinouts and patents that translate electrochemistry breakthroughs into practical energy solutions.
Leadership, Community, and the RACI Vision
RACI President Professor Amanda Ellis emphasised that the 2025 National Awards celebrate more than individual achievement. “They celebrate community, diversity and vision,” she noted, highlighting the collaborative nature of scientific progress. The awards recognize researchers at various career stages and underscore chemistry’s role in addressing real-world challenges—from health disparities to energy security.
UNSW’s Dean of Science, Professor Sven Rogge, expressed pride in Thordarson and Zhao, praising their commitment, passion, and innovation. He noted that such recognitions reinforce UNSW’s role in advancing chemistry for the broader science community and society at large.
Looking Ahead: Chemistry Driving a Sustainable Future
The achievements of Thordarson and Zhao illustrate how chemistry underpins critical breakthroughs in medicine and sustainable energy. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, UNSW continues to push the boundaries of what is possible—from smart therapeutic devices to practical, low-cost energy solutions that help power a net-zero future. As researchers translate laboratory insights into market-ready technologies, the impact of chemistry on everyday life becomes increasingly tangible.
About RACI and How to Learn More
RACI’s National Awards spotlight excellence across the chemical sciences, recognizing researchers for outstanding contributions to research, technology, leadership, and the broader community. For more information about the awards and the laureates, visit RACI’s official website.
