Hector Medal – for an outstanding contribution to the advancement of the chemical sciences: awarded by the Royal Society of New Zealand to Professor Peter Steel FRSNZ
Citation: Awarded to Professor Peter Steel FRSNZ for his world renowned research in the field of metallosupramolecular chemistry leading to potential applications in medicine and nanotechnology.
Description of work: Professor Peter Steel of the University of Canterbury was honoured with the Hector Medal. Professor Steel FRSNZ is world renowned in the field of metallosupramolecular chemistry, which is concerned with the synthesis and properties of large assemblies of organic molecules held together by metal atoms. These fascinating macromolecules can behave as nanoscale flasks within which one can isolate individual molecules. The research has potential applications in the fields of catalysis, drug delivery and nanotechnology. In Christchurch currently, Steel is researching the assembly of new supramolecular structures with unusual architectures, such as cages, boxes, rings, chains, necklaces and ladders, as well as the discovery of new interactions to hold together such species.
