Collections
Research culture
In this collection we explore fostering a positive research culture and scientific practices, covering topics such as reproducibility, open science, diversity and inclusion, leadership and mentorship, career instability, discrimination, misconduct and the evolving landscape of research ethics and integrity.
Leadership
What’s wrong with research culture?
A knotty mess of problems affects people doing academic research in the UK. Rachel Brazil tries to untie the tangle
How to improve research culture
Five ways to make chemistry departments better places to work
How EPSRC fosters inclusion
The pandemic has provided valuable lessons for funders to rethink research culture
Support and wellbeing
Act now to support early-career researchers
The Covid-19 pandemic has further highlighted long-existing issues that leaders need to take a stance on
Mental wellbeing in academia
Not enough has been done to support students during the pandemic
Science and research ‘are dead’ in Afghanistan
Afghan researchers and scholars flee or go into hiding as the Taliban’s return to power sees the science academy and universities closed
UKRI response to Black female academics on funding decisions called inadequate
Pledge to improve understanding and monitoring of inequality comes a year after open letter was first published
Diverse cultures
In situ with Tebello Nyokong
The influential chemist on nurturing confidence in students and taking inspiration from the humanities
The science of team science
Researchers and funders are exploring ways to make large collaborative projects more successful
Science faction
Taking inspiration from nerd culture
Science as a product of culture
The role of background beliefs and assumptions in the development of science
Change at the top
Improving research culture requires effort – but it’s worth it
Impact of Covid-19
Let it go
We have to accept that we can’t catch up on time lost in lockdown
How Covid-19 has changed us
While the pandemic has introduced more efficient and global ways of working, researchers and educators still have challenges to overcome
Pandemic continues to disrupt and depress UK researchers, survey finds
Researchers reported spending more time on peer-review activities, teaching and writing
Leading a lab through pandemic-induced uncertainty
Emphathy is vital to support mentees effectively
Publishing
Depositing hope for the future
The rise of ChemRxiv might mean that chemists can tackle thornier cultural problems
Australian Research Council’s ban on preprints in grants prompts outcry
Move derided as ‘hopelessly outdated’ and a setback for open science by researchers
Chemists react to UK umbrella funding body’s new open access mandate
Agency aligns itself with principles of Plan S by insisting on immediate open access
Four years of chemistry preprints
Nina Notman takes stock of how preprint severs have settled into the chemistry community
BusinessGreener dyes of every colour for fabric and food
Brilliant Dyes is extracting natural colours from algae to reduce energy, water and waste
OpinionLearning the language of chemistry
Chemical structures embed vast amounts of information that needs translating for machines
OpinionQuestions about who to credit extend beyond the Nobel prize
Conceptual, epistemic and political factors all influence who is deemed to have made a scientific discovery
CareersHighlighting the ‘missing elements’ in chemistry curricula
How staff and students from a trio of universities in London, UK are working together to produce resources that showcase minoritised chemists
CareersHow to diversify a chemistry department and curriculum
Tips to help a wider range of students feel like they belong in chemistry
NewsSmall World photo competition winner announced following disqualification of video winner for AI use
The organisers of the Nikon Small World in Motion contest have now honoured a new winner with its top prize of $3000
NewsGreen chemistry co-founder John Warner on tragedy, creativity and science
Warner shares how his passion for music transitioned into a love of chemistry and how life events have shaped his professional successes
BusinessCovestro cuts polycarbonate production in Europe
Decision attributed to high costs, weak demand and international competition
WebinarIn conversation with Richmond Sarpong
Hear from the organic synthetic chemist rewriting the rules of molecular construction – join us 3 December
FeatureThe evolution of chemical notation
Chemical notation has come a long way since the cryptic symbols of the alchemists – but agreeing on how to represent molecules, bonds and reactions has never been straightforward, and the challenge is far from over
OpinionWhy innovation gets stifled if you've settled into the fur-lined rut
Progress involves assessing all processes for improvements – even those whose inefficiencies we’re comfortable with
BusinessStrikes at GSK’s Belgian sites over plans to cut 1200 jobs
Layoffs spread across R&D, manufacturing and support functions
CareersThe PhD to biotech series: Networking, hiring reality and making the transition stick
In the fourth and final part of the series, Matteo Tardelli discusses strategies to find and thrive in the industry
FeatureHow asymmetric autocatalysis won the Nobel prize
Mason Wakley tells the full story of how Henri Kagan and Kensō Soai’s work on non-linear effects and asymmetric autocatalysis won the 2026 Nobel prize in chemistry
PodcastWaterproof white inspired by nature & low-stakes mistakes
How can structural colour provide an alternative for pigments, chemicals and their environmental cost? And the Chemistry World team discusses their low-stakes mistakes.
NewsNeurodiverse students use different strategies to reason through chemistry problems
Greater understanding of the challenges these learners face could lead to new strategies to help them in areas where they are weaker
OpinionWhat’s it like to be the first person privy to Nobel-worthy work?
As Philip Ball, handling editor of Kensō Soai’s 1995 paper reveals, sometimes you’re oblivious to it
BusinessSyngenta plans to close Grangemouth manufacturing site
Shutting export-focused pesticide plant would cut 377 jobs
NewsMeet the two scientists who have just won the 2026 Nobel prize in chemistry
Learn about the lives of newly minted chemistry Nobel laureates Henri Kagan and Kensō Soai
CareersThe PhD to biotech series: Translating an academic profile into an industry narrative
In the third article of the series, Matteo Tardelli explains how to present academic experience in a way that appeals to hiring managers in biotech
NewsReactions that demonstrate how homochirality can emerge take chemistry Nobel prize
Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai share the prize for ‘the discovery of non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis’
NewsThe Nobel prize in chemistry 2026 as it happens – Live
Duo worked on answer to puzzle of life’s homochirality – why life favours one mirror image of a molecule over another
NewsDiscovery of light-activated proteins and their application in neuroscience wins Nobel prize in medicine
Optogenetics has helped researchers better understand the brain and is enabling new treatments for neurological conditions