Blavatnik Award
The 2022 Blavatnik Awards ceremony for Young Scientists in the United Kingdom was hosted at the Victoria & Albert Museum on the 28th February 2022.
The award is focussed on promoting discovery, technology and innovations that benefit the whole of society.
Professor Anja Schmidt was a finalist of the physical sciences and engineering category; her research is on climate modelling, including volcanic eruptions and their impact on air quality, and her findings have informed policy on hazard mitigation and health.
Professor Gonçalo Bernardes was the finalist for the chemistry category; his research in bench-to-clinic chemistry involves tailoring chemical interactions within the human body without interfering with natural processes.
See videos about their amazing research below.
Volcano eruptions actually, have a cooling effect on the planet. After large eruptions, the surface of the Earth temporarily cools by about half a degree Celsius – this cooling effect lasts for up to 3 years. '22 Finalist Anja Schmidt @volcanofile @Cambridge_Uni @ChemCambridge pic.twitter.com/Bho5eia3zi
— Blavatnik Awards (@BlavatnikAwards) March 1, 2022
"RNA in SARS-CoV-2 #COVID-19 features a unique RNA structural feature. My group has developed RNA 'scissors'; these SCISSORS add functionality & irreversibly degrade, cut the RNA." - '22 Blavatnik Awards UK Finalist Gonçalo Bernardes @gbernardes_chem @ChemCambridge @IMMolecular pic.twitter.com/lP68eoXuLt
— Blavatnik Awards (@BlavatnikAwards) March 1, 2022
“Encouraging and supporting young scientists is essential if we are to successfully address society’s challenges,” reports Sir Leonard Blavatnik, the founder and chairman of the award.
“By honouring these young individuals and their achievements, we are helping to promote the breakthroughs in science and technology that will define how our world will look over the next century.”