Sir Richard Catlow FRS has been elected as the new Chair of Trustees at the Royal Institution, following the science engagement charity’s AGM last night.
Sir Richard has been a Trustee at the Royal Institution since April 2021, following a successful career as a scientist working in interdisciplinary fields relating to the development of functional materials for energy and catalytic technologies.
Sir Richard was one of the pioneers in the development and application of computational tools in chemistry and materials science. He has published extensively, and his work has been recognised by election to the Fellowship of the Royal Society, the German National Science Academy and by several awards. From 1989 to 2006, Sir Richard worked at the Ri as Wolfson Professor and from 1998 to 2006, as Director of the Davy Faraday Laboratory.
Sir Richard takes up his new position as Chair with immediate effect, following his predecessor, Sir Richard Sykes’s decision to stand down after 12 years leading the Ri.
Sir Richard said: “Having worked at the Ri for many years I will always have a strong affection for this wonderful charity. I am therefore delighted and honoured to be able to build on Sir Richard’s [Sykes] legacy as we look forward to a bright and positive future.
“There are many opportunities for the application of scientific advance to transform our lives, but challenges too, and never has the mission of the Ri to connect as many people as possible with science, been as important as it is today.”
Welcoming Sir Richard’s appointment, Director of the Ri Katherine Mathieson, said: “I am very much looking forward to working with Sir Richard as he takes up his position at the Ri.
“With an entirely new leadership team, we have fresh impetus to implement positive change; to increase our charitable impact through the engagement opportunities we create, make a demonstrable difference for schools in disadvantaged areas, champion science education in school and in the home and to grow the public’s exploration of the ways in which science shapes the world around us.
“We will make the Ri more inclusive and accessible, to welcome many more people to our world-famous brand of Ri science than ever before and extend our reach across the UK and throughout the world.”
Katherine also paid tribute to Sir Richard Sykes, under who’s leadership, the Ri has successfully navigated a period of significant challenges – including the reversal of historic financial mis-management and the Covid-19 pandemic – to the point where the historic charity is engaging more people with science than ever before:
“Sir Richard’s successful leadership of the Ri is testament to his vision, energy and passion for engaging the public with science.
“He inherited an organisation in financial difficulty and, along with the Ri’s staff and its many, many supporters, transformed the Ri into one that was growing in every area before the pandemic hit.
“Today, we have emerged from the pandemic, returned to a full programme of engagement activities, and are about to begin development of our new five-year strategy.
“That we are about to begin writing a positive new chapter at the Ri is due in no small part to Sir Richard’s energy, vision and sheer determination to get things done.”
Sir Richard Sykes, said: “After 12 years as Chair of Trustees and with the Ri looking forward to a bright future, this is the right time to hand over to a new leader who will oversee the next exciting stage of its growth.
“I would like to thank all those who have supported the vital work of the Ri over the years, as well as me personally – our Ri Members and Patrons, our staff and volunteers, my fellow Trustees and our many, many supporters.”
Sir Richard Catlow’s election comes as attendees at the Ri’s annual general meeting heard, that despite the pandemic and the enforced suspension of most Ri activities for prolonged periods which devastated the charity’s income, in 2021 alone the Ri:
- Gave more grants for free school visits from its professional science presenters than ever before; 100% of which went to the UK’s most disadvantaged schools, special schools and pupil referral units.
- Engaged over 40,000 people with science through its new programme of livestream talks, introduced at the height of the pandemic
- Reached the milestone of 1 million subscribers to its YouTube channel, taking Ri talks to a global audience
- Saw 3.3 million viewers for the CHRISTMAS LECTURES with Jonathan Van-Tam, the highest total in over a decade.
Sir Richard will now work with Ri Director Katherine Mathieson, Staff and Trustees at the Ri to develop its new five-year strategy for growth.