Bernal Chair receives Wales' highest academic honour
Wednesday, 17 May 2017

Bernal Chair of Crystal Engineering at UL, SFI Professor Michael Zaworotko has been admitted to the Learned Society of Wales (LSW) in honour of his world-class contribution to science. 

Election to fellowship of the society is a public recognition of academic excellence and achievement and is the highest academic honour in Wales.

Professor Zaworotko leads a group of researchers on the design and development of crystalline structures.  From fundamental discoveries to applied industry innovations, these projects seek to design materials from first principles using “molecular building blocks”, which allow for close control of the properties and in turn characteristics of the resulting materials.

Professor Zaworotko is internationally recognised for his work, contributing important theoretical models and practical demonstrations of how crystalline materials can address grand challenges such as energy sustainability and enhancing processes within the pharmaceutical industry.

In 2011, Thomson-Reuters listed Professor Zaworotko as the 20th highest impact chemist since 2000 and in 2014, 2015 and 2016 the organisation listed him as a highly-cited researcher.

Amongst those also admitted to the Learned Society of Wales were Professor Mary McAleese, former President of Ireland, currently Distinguished Professor in Irish Studies at St Mary’s University, Twickenham.
Those elected are entitled to use the designation FLSW after their name. This latest admission brings to 460, the number fellows of the Learned Society and together the fellowship are tasked to help promote awareness of how the sciences and the arts, humanities and social sciences benefit society. 
Professor Zaworotko is the first member of the Learned Society from UL.