Imperial College celebrates

The department of chemistry at Imperial College, London has been awarded a pair of RSC National Chemical Landmarks in recognition of the work of two of its Nobel prizewinning alumni chemists, professors Sir Derek Barton and Sir Geoffrey Wilkinson. The awards are part of an RSC initiative to commemorate major achievements in the chemical sciences and bring them to the attention of the public.  

Two blue plaques were presented to the rector of Imperial College, Sir Richard Sykes, by the RSC president Professor Jim Feast, at a ceremony in the Sir Alexander Fleming Building in May. The timely awards come as the South Kensington-based institution celebrates the centenary of the signing of its founding charter on 8 July 1907, which combined three 19th century institutions - the Royal School of Mines, the Royal College of Science and the City and Guilds College.