The Class of 2015
We like to pretend that the extraordinary young scientists profiled below gather regularly in a secret lair to plot how they'll fight global scourges such as climate change and human disease.
Editors can dream, right? Although the CO2 Wrangler and the Mind Mapper, as we've dubbed them, don't actually belong to a circle of superheroes (at least that we know of), they nevertheless strive each day to make the planet a better place.
Welcome to C&EN's first annual Talented 12 feature, in which we highlight path-paving young researchers and entrepreneurs who are using chemistry to solve global problems. Among other things, this impressive group is seeking ways to synthesize molecules in a more environmentally friendly way, developing methods to curb global warming by removing carbon dioxide from the air, and investigating the biochemical underpinnings of diseases to help find a cure.
We selected 12 of them as a nod toward their chemical roots: The International Union of Pure & Applied Chemistry defines the mole—a fundamental unit of measure for chemists—with respect to the number of atoms in 12 g of carbon-12.
You might not recognize the names of the dozen chemists on our list. Their research might not yet be on your radar. But we're convinced that if we hadn't put the spotlight on them, their secret identities would have eventually been revealed through their undeniable scientific feats. Meet the Talented 12 »»»
