Rachel Brazil
Rachel has been a freelance science writer for almost a decade.
Based in London, she writes for a variety of publications on scientific areas, including chemistry, materials science, biomedical and pharmaceutical science, and science and innovation policy.
Prior to this, she worked in a number of scientific organizations, including the RSC, the Royal Institution and the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (Nesta). From 2006–2010 she ran Nesta's national researcher development programme, Crucible. Focused on encouraging creativity and stimulating interdisciplinary encounters between early career researchers, Crucible has now been adopted by a number of UK Universities.
Rachel herself has an interdisciplinary academic background, with degrees in chemistry and a PhD in archaeological conservation. She is also a trainer for the British Council’s Researcher Connect programme, teaching in China, Russia and Mexico.
NewsExplainer: The science of alkyl nitrites aka poppers
From their origins as 19th century angina treatment to becoming an important part of gay subculture, these recreational drugs exist in a legal limbo
- Business
The future of ‘next generation’ DNA sequencing
As it gets cheaper and easier to read genetic code, its applications are expanding rapidly
- Feature
Reaching the molecular limit of magnetic memory
Clever chemistry could help computers cram even more data onto their hard drives. Rachel Brazil reports on single-molecule magnets
- Article
Ida Noddack and the trouble with element 43
The German chemist discovered one element and may have been the first to suggest nuclear fission – but her legacy is troubled, as Rachel Brazil discovers
- Careers
The gender pay gap is not going away
Despite a variety of activities in industry and academia, women in chemistry continue to earn less than men
- Feature
Why do people believe conspiracy theories?
Rachel Brazil looks into the dangerous world of chemical conspiracy theories and asks the experts what we can do about it
- Feature
Drugging RNA
Some medicinal chemists have changed their focus from proteins to target RNA, finds Rachel Brazil
- Feature
Marking the Anthropocene
The idea that we’re in a human-influenced geological epoch is gaining traction, but how will future geologists measure it? Rachel Brazil finds out
- Business
Taking plastic out of performance paper coatings
SGMA’s silicate sol-gel is a sustainable alternative for packaging such as coffee cups
- Careers
Studying chemistry in the age of Covid-19
University students across the UK are enjoying a mixture of online and practical learning as departments adjust to new restrictions
- Feature
Chemistry for all?
Rachel Brazil reports on the RSC’s five-year project to see whether students from disadvantaged backgrounds can be encouraged to study chemistry
- Careers
Job hunting in a recession
Persistence is needed, but there are still career opportunities for chemists
- Careers
How chemo-ethnography puts chemistry in context
New social science fields are exploring how chemists and chemicals affect society
- Feature
The function of folding
Can chemists make molecules that fold up as well as proteins? Rachel Brazil talks to the people trying to create foldamers
- Careers
UK universities prepare for a new academic year
Much uncertainty remains as chemistry departments plan how they’ll resume undergraduate teaching
- Business
Developing antiviral mask technology in a pandemic
Surface chemistry strategies play a pivotal role in personal protective equipment that can neutralise the Sars-CoV-2 virus
- Feature
Supporting the chemistry community
The Chemists’ Community Fund – formerly the Benevolent Fund – has been helping people for 100 years. Rachel Brazil looks at how it works, now it may be more needed than ever before
