UBC chemist, astronomer honoured by Royal Society of Canada

UBC chemist Mark MacLachlan and stellar astronomer Harvey Richer have been elected fellows of the Royal Society of Canada, the society announced today.

MacLachlan is an internationally recognized leader in supramolecular materials chemistry, applying concepts from nature to the design and synthesis of new molecules and materials. His pioneering work in iridescent glasses that mimic the structure of beetle shells has led to a new field of research in photonic materials.

Last year MacLachlan was honoured with the Rutherford Memorial Medal in Chemistry from the RSC.

Richer has applied the most advanced optical telescopes in space and on the ground in the detection and characterization of stars in the oldest stellar systems. His research has provided fundamental estimates of the age of the Universe, the density of dark matter, and the dynamics and formation of galaxies and globular clusters.

The researchers are among 30 UBC Science researchers elected to the society since 2000. This year the RSC elected 90 new fellows, including three foreign fellows, three specially elected fellows, and one honorary fellow this year. Five were from UBC.

This year's new fellows will be inducted to the academies of the RSC during an induction and awards ceremony on November 22, 2014 in Quebec City.

Royal Society of Canada http://rsc-src.ca/en/friends-partners/newsroom/press-releases/royal-soc…