Phillip Broadwith
Business editor, Chemistry World
As Business editor, my aim is to highlight to readers the exciting and innovative chemistry going on in the commercial sector, as well as keeping you abreast of trends and developments in the world of chemistry businesses.
From the point I left school, my aim was to join the pharmaceutical industry. A gap year and summer placements in company labs, and a PhD in organic synthesis followed.
But halfway through my PhD I entered a writing competition run by the Daily Telegraph. I managed to win – somewhat to my own surprise. That changed my perspective and made me think that I should consider writing more seriously as a career. I joined the Royal Society of Chemistry just before submitting my thesis, and luckily a position with Chemistry World came up a few months later. I sometimes miss the thrills (less so the spills) of lab work, but interacting with world-leading scientists and industrialists, as well as learning new things on a daily basis more than makes up for it.
OpinionChemical recycling of plastics rises as oil crisis continues
Recovering feedstocks from hard-to-recycle plastic is potentially important in a more circular plastic economy
OpinionWidening impact of conflict in Iran
Deyond hydrocarbons, helium and sulfur – byproducts of petroleum extraction – have also been critically affected by Iran’s blockade of Gulf exports
PodcastAtomic radii & synthetic food dyes
In this episode, we discuss the where the true limits of an atom lie, the US’s plan to eliminate synthetic food dyes, and hear the latest headlines
OpinionHydrogen bubble’s squeaky pop
Were cancelled hydrogen production projects overly optimistic or commitments of convenience?
OpinionAre food colour clashes worth the worry?
Calling artificial colours ‘petroleum-based poisons’ plays to popular fears, not necessarily evidence
OpinionModerna’s vaccine regulatory hokey-cokey
US FDA initially refused to accept flu vaccine for review, but has since reversed that decision
OpinionSlimming down competition over weight-loss drugs
Legal battle between Novo Nordisk and US compounding pharmacy Hims & Hers has fizzled after regulator intervention
OpinionProbing PFAS policies in the UK and EU
The UK has set out its approach to regulating fluorochemicals, and the EU has projected the savings from a proposed ban
PodcastBench-stable butyllithium & secrets of Pompeii’s limescale
In this episode, we discuss the latest formulations designed to make a set of fiery reagents safer, explore what limescale can tell us about ancient civilizations and hear the latest headlines.
OpinionCarbon border taxes may do more harm than good
Industry argues UK proposals are flawed and will not promote decarbonisation
OpinionTrump’s attack on science is shaking industry’s foundations
By dismantling scientific enterprise, the US risks ‘taking a hammer to our miracle machine’
OpinionPlastic recycling’s perfect storm
Pending policies that demand more recycling cannot offset problems of high costs and competition from cheap virgin polymers
OpinionReprieve for Grangemouth ethylene
UK government agrees £150 million deal to support the country’s last ethylene production plant
OpinionA unifying force for African medicines
The new African Medicines Agency is hugely important but faces significant challenges
OpinionChanging the rules of global chemicals trade
Chemical dumping claims reflect US and China’s focus on national interests ahead of global markets
OpinionInhaler propellant switch is worth the effort
Memories of a year spent testing new inhaler valve designs
BusinessUS judge to approve Purdue’s opioid bankruptcy deal
Settlement allows for future lawsuits against Sackler family owners
OpinionA robotic helping hand
Mechanical labmates are making huge progress, but there are still big challenges to overcome
BusinessPfizer wins bidding war for Metsera and its weight-loss drugs
US firm matched Novo Nordisk’s rival bid and had backing of competition regulator
BusinessPfizer and Novo Nordisk’s battle over Metsera
Lawsuits fly in bidding war over developer of next generation weight loss drugs