Professor Douglas MacFarlane elected as Fellow of the Royal Society
Congratulations to Professor Doug MacFarlane, a world-leading expert in green ammonia, electrochemistry and ionic liquids, on being elected as Fellow of the Royal Society.
Until recently an Australian Research Council (ARC) Australian Laureate Fellow and now a Sir John Monash Distinguished Professor at Monash University’s School of Chemistry, Professor MacFarlane joins over 90 exceptional researchers from around the world who have this year been elected to the Fellowship.
Recognised for their invaluable contributions to science, the elected Fellows are leaders in their fields and are drawn from across academia, industry and wider society globally.
The new intake spans disciplines as varied as pioneering treatments for Huntington’s Disease, developing the first algorithm for video streaming, generating new insights into memory formation, and studying the origins and evolution of our universe.
Sir Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society, said:
“I am pleased to welcome such an outstanding group into the Fellowship of the Royal Society.
“This new cohort have already made significant contributions to our understanding of the world around us and continue to push the boundaries of possibility in academic research and industry.
“From visualising the sharp rise in global temperatures since the industrial revolution to leading the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, their diverse range of expertise is furthering human understanding and helping to address some of our greatest challenges.
“It is an honour to have them join the Fellowship.”
Professor MacFarlane is a distinguished figure in the field of chemistry, renowned for his ground-breaking contributions to the advancement of renewable energy technologies. With a career spanning decades he has garnered international acclaim for his innovative research and visionary leadership.
His pioneering work focuses on the development of novel materials and processes for energy storage and conversion, particularly in the realm of electrochemistry and green chemistry. He has played a pivotal role in revolutionising the landscape of sustainable energy solutions, addressing critical challenges related to climate change and environmental sustainability.
Professor MacFarlane’s most notable achievements include the discovery and refinement of advanced ionic liquids, which have emerged as promising candidates for next-generation energy storage systems and catalysis. His research has significantly advanced our understanding of the fundamental principles underlying electrochemical processes and has paved the way for the design of more efficient and environmentally friendly technologies. Recently, with co-worker Associate Professor Alexandr Simonov, his group has developed a novel process that uses renewables to produce green ammonia for fertilisers and as a future fuel.
The Royal Society is a self-governing Fellowship of many of the world’s most distinguished scientists drawn from all areas of science, engineering, and medicine. The Society’s fundamental purpose, as it has been since its foundation in 1660, is to recognise, promote, and support excellence in science and to encourage the development and use of science for the benefit of humanity.
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