The need for science diplomacy in a fragmenting world
By 
Rebecca Trager2026-02-24T14:30:00
After receiving a US science diplomacy prize, Chemistry World talks to Martyn Poliakoff and Richard Catlow about global scientific challenges, their love of technicians and being astounded by children’s questions
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has awarded chemists Martyn Poliakoff, from the University of Nottingham, and Richard Catlow, from University College London and Cardiff University, this year’s David and Betty Hamburg Award for Science Diplomacy. Their consecutive tenures as foreign secretary of the Royal Society, from 2011 to 2016 and 2016 to 2021 respectively, led to new collaborations between North Korean, British and US scientists, promoted local and regional research capacity in sub-Saharan Africa, supported early-career researchers in China, Cuba, Ukraine and elsewhere, and strengthened European science ties following Brexit. Chemistry World caught up with them earlier this month at the AAAS annual meeting in Phoenix, Arizona where they received their prizes.