Patrick Walter
News editor, Chemistry World
I came to science via making mini traffic lights, measuring the speed of falling sycamore seeds and brewing fine ‘perfumes’ from whatever could be dug up from the garden. These unorthodox projects eventually led to a course studying biochemistry at Bristol to indulge my interest in science. Here I found that I had more of a flair for writing about science than actually doing it, after some spectacularly unsuccessful afternoon practicals!
After stints working on science journals, writing for society newsletters and editing and writing jobs with the magazine Chemistry & Industry I joined Chemistry World. Writing for the magazine has given me a wonderful opportunity to meet childhood heroes and some of the best scientists in the world. Telling the world about their work is not only great fun, but also matters. A scientifically literate public and body politic is vital if we expect evidence to play a greater role in policy-making.
OpinionScience needs to get its house in order when it comes to energy use and waste
Labs have an outsized environmental footprint but solutions are within reach
OpinionRemembering Flixborough: 50 years on from one of the chemical industry’s deadliest disasters
The legacy of one of the UK’s worst industrial accidents is a safer industry
OpinionHumphry Davy’s whole story – warts and all – deserves to be told
Offensive comments about other races and cultures are part of his legacy too
NewsWhat’s the most expensive piece of glassware you ever broke? Chemists share their stories
Question on social media strikes a chord as scientists share their smashing tales
NewsFive of our favourite Christmas chemistrees from 2023
Students and scientists have been getting festive again at schools and labs around the world
OpinionOne year on from ChatGPT’s launch does it offer hope or hype for science?
Chatbots could help chemists but their limitations need to be understood
OpinionThe PFAS problem in everyone’s back yard
Communities around the world will have to get to grips with a new pollution problem that will cost billions to address
NewsThe 2023 Nobel prize in chemistry as it happens – live
Moungi Bawendi, Louis Brus and Alexei Ekimov win chemistry Nobel for quantum dots
OpinionThe UK has rejoined Horizon Europe, but the delays have been costly
The deal to rejoin the EU’s science programme makes sense for the country and it’s well overdue
OpinionThe end of chemical warfare
With a final push we might see these terrible weapons disappear from the world in our lifetime
NewsChemical weapons watchdog opens new lab as end nears for deadly munitions
New facility will allow OPCW to address changing nature of threat from chemical weapons
OpinionNursing success – what next for UK science?
Policy prescriptions for research need cross-party support
OpinionA decade on Crispr is already poised to deliver on its promise
Gene editing could transform healthcare but no disease should be forgotten
OpinionWe’re all in this together
As rivalry between countries increases scientific collaboration must be maintained to tackle our shared problems
OpinionTrouble at the top of the UK government spells trouble for science too
Science craves certainty but the UK hasn’t been able to deliver it recently
NewsThe 2022 chemistry Nobel prize goes to bioorthogonal and click chemistry
Carolyn Bertozzi, Morten Meldal and Barry Sharpless take chemistry’s top prize
FeatureVisualising the Nobel nomination archive
Who nominated whom for the biggest prize in chemistry