Dr Mutch has won the Environment, Sustainability and Energy Early Career Prize for developing novel CO₂-capture membranes and sorbents that advance low-energy carbon removal, while Dr Armstrong has received the Hickinbottom Prize for his work on stereochemistry in multicomponent reactions and organo-alkali metal chemistry.

Dr Greg Mutch - Removing carbon dioxide from industrial emissions

The Environment, Sustainability and Energy Early Career Prize is one of the RSC’s Research & Innovation Prizes, given in celebration of exceptional people advancing the chemical sciences across industry and academia.

Dr Mutch's work focuses on one of the central challenges of climate change: how to remove carbon dioxide from industrial emissions and directly from the air in a way that is practical, affordable, and scalable. He develops new materials and processes – particularly membranes and solid sorbents – that act like highly selective filters, separating carbon dioxide more efficiently and reducing the energy required for capture.

Dr Mutch explains further: "A key part of my research involves challenging long-held assumptions. For example, we have shown that the type of surface in a material can matter more than its surface area for capturing carbon dioxide. We have also developed membranes that go beyond previous performance limits, including systems that can extract carbon dioxide from air using ambient energy sources such as humidity differences.”

These advances could help decarbonise industries like steel, cement, and chemicals, and support the large-scale removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere – both essential for meeting climate targets.

On receiving the prize, Dr Mutch said, “I am honoured to receive this prize, and sincerely grateful to the Royal Society of Chemistry for this recognition of our work.

“It is important to be honest in moments like this. Academic careers are often seen as linear, but in reality they involve uncertainty, setbacks, and a range of emotions, particularly for early career researchers navigating precarity and comparison.

“My path has also depended on many factors beyond my individual effort, including a supportive family, access to education, and – most importantly – outstanding colleagues, collaborators, students, and team members.

“This prize reflects a shared achievement, and I am especially grateful to those I have worked with over the years.”

Dr Roly Armstrong - New methods for the synthesis of organic molecules

The Hickinbottom Prize is one of the RSC’s Research & Innovation Prizes, given in celebration of exceptional people advancing the chemical sciences across industry and academia.

Dr Armstrong's research programme focuses on the development of new methods for the synthesis of organic molecules, with an emphasis on improving both selectivity and sustainability.

This includes a particular focus on the stereoselective synthesis of C–N atropisomeric compounds – molecules that exhibit three dimensionality due to restricted rotation about a carbon–nitrogen bond. These chiral architectures are increasingly recognised as important motifs in areas such as medicinal chemistry, where their molecular shape and stereochemistry can have a profound influence on biological activity.

In parallel, Dr Armstrong’s group investigates the use of Group 1 metals in organic synthesis. His research has shown that mechanochemistry, where chemical transformations are driven by mechanical force, can unlock the unique reactivity of elements such as sodium, enabling the development of more sustainable and efficient synthetic processes.

On receiving the prize, Dr Armstrong said, “I am delighted and grateful to receive this prize. It reflects the hard work and creativity of my research group and collaborators I have had the privilege to work with. I hope it will help to support and inspire our ongoing research efforts.”

Exceptional role models for our communities

Dr Helen Pain, CEO of the Royal Society of Chemistry, said: “Chemistry and chemists are everywhere in daily life and in our society, and our prizes reflect that depth and diversity. Our Research & Innovation prize winners include teams and individuals, professors and apprentices, as well as people from all around the world and in a wide range of roles and sectors. Each person’s contribution plays a vital role in advancing human knowledge and bettering the world that we all live in.”

The full suite of RSC Prizes comprises Volunteer Recognition Prizes, Research & Innovation Prizes, Education Prizes (announced in November), the Inclusion & Diversity Prize, and the Horizon Prizes – team prizes given to scientific collaborations innovating and conducting cutting edge research at the frontiers of chemistry.

Find out more at rsc.li/prizes

Find out more about studying Chemistry at Newcastle University.

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Adapted with thanks from the RSC.