Promotion of Diversity in Chemistry

‌Lesley Yellowlees CBE is currently Vice Principal and Head of the College of Science and Engineering at the University of Edinburgh.  She has worked with the Royal Society of Chemistry for many years and became their first female President in July 2012.

She is a champion for the promotion of women in science and in 2011 was honoured by the IUPAC as a Distinguished Woman in Chemistry for her scientific contributions to the global chemistry community.  Her research interests include inorganic electrochemistry and spectroelectrochemistry, epr spectroscopy, solar energy and CO2 conversion.  Her other interests include the public engagement of science and the promotion of women in science.

She was awarded an MBE in 2005 for services to science, a CBE in 2014 for services to chemistry, and was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2012.  She has honorary degrees from both Heriot-Watt and the Open Universities.  Lesley is married to Peter and they have two children, Sarah and Mark.