Prof Sir James Fraser Stoddart, alumnus and friend of the University of Edinburgh School of Chemistry, has died on 30 December at the age of 82. Sir Fraser Stoddart has left a legacy of incredible impact, both through his distinguished academic career and his support of young scientists, including many PhD students at the School of Chemistry. Tributes have been shared from around the scientific community to Sir Fraser and his pioneering work in nanoscience and organic chemistry.Sir Fraser was born in Edinburgh and raised in a small farming community near the city. He completed a BSc in Chemistry in 1964 and was awarded a PhD two years later. During his time at the University of Edinburgh, he met his future wife, biochemist Norma Scholan (1944 – 2004), who became a key part of the Stoddart research group. After graduating, Sir Fraser went on to start his academic career at Queen’s University, Ontario.Over the course of his career, Sir Fraser made extensive contributions to organic chemistry research, but he is best known for his work in the field of supramolecular chemistry and in particular, the concept of the mechanical bond. He became renowned as a leading expert in nanotechnology, the area for which he received a prestigious Nobel Prize in 2016. The Nobel Prize, shared with Sir Fraser’s colleagues Jean-Pierre Sauvage and Bernard Feringa, was awarded for the design and production of molecular machines. In work that has spanned over 30 years, the trio developed molecules with controllable movements which can perform a task when energy is added. Sir Fraser Stoddart after receiving an honorary degree from the University of Edinburgh in 2023 Sir Fraser has received worldwide awards, published many papers and mentored hundreds of graduate students. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society of London, the German Academy (Leopoldina) of Natural Sciences, the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Chemical Society, as well as an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Royal Society of Chemistry. In 2006, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for services to chemistry and molecular nanotechnology. Throughout his career, Sir Fraser maintained a lifelong connection to his former Edinburgh home and place of study at the University of Edinburgh School of Chemistry. In 2013, Sir Fraser supported the establishment of the Fraser and Norma Stoddart PhD Prize. This prestigious prize has honoured PhD students who demonstrated outstanding research accomplishments and contributed widely to the life of students within the School of Chemistry. Prize winners have gone on to make a difference in a wide variety of areas after graduation, such as crystallography, sustainable technologies, regulatory affairs, pharmaceutical manufacturing, heritage science and teaching. Sir Fraser Stoddart delivering a speech to new graduates in 2023 Sir Fraser was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Edinburgh in 2023 in recognition of his inspirational world-leading work over the past five decades which has revolutionised chemical science and pioneered the field of molecular machines. We will always remember Sir Fraser fondly for his groundbreaking research, his friendship and his invaluable contributions to the School of Chemistry community, which has made a huge difference to the many students who he has supported over the years. His incredible achievements as one of the world’s greatest chemists will continue to inspire our students, staff and alumni. Professor Jason Love Head of the School of Chemistry Further information Eyes on the Prizes - the Fraser and Norma Stoddart PhD PrizeTribute to Sir Fraser Stoddart in Chemistry World [External] Images credit: Douglas Robertson Publication date 06 Jan, 2025
