Talk derailed by Nobel Prize finally delivered

Nobel Prize winner Prof Robert Grubbs (right) takes part in a lively question and answer session at the University of Otago chemistry department yesterday. Photo by Jane Dawber.

Nobel Prize-winning scientist Prof Robert Grubbs is predicting a big future for green chemistry in helping develop a more sustainable world.

Prof Grubbs (69), who gave a public lecture at the University of Otago in Dunedin yesterday, is a pioneer in green chemistry and also has a particularly soft spot for New Zealand.

After all, he explained, New Zealand was where he had been - and, in fact, visiting Canterbury University as an Erskine Fellow- when, in 2005 he received the phone call telling him he had won the Nobel Prize for chemistry.

Prof Grubbs, of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), was awarded the prize, with Prof Yves Chauvin and Prof Richard Shrock, for the development of metathesis, an organic synthesis technique.

This chemical reaction is now used daily in the chemical industry for the more efficient and more environmentally friendly production of important pharmaceuticals, fuels and synthetic fibres.

The Grubbs Catalyst is named after him.

Prof Grubbs had been due to give a public talk at Otago University in 2005, but could not do so after being called back to Caltech after the Nobel Prize announcement.

Back in New Zealand this year, again as an Erskine Fellow at Canterbury, he was yesterday happy to give the talk which he could not give six years ago.

He also took part in a lively luncheon question and answer session with more than 40 Otago chemistry students.

He joked that approaching him with a networking query after he had given a scientific talk was not always the best time, because then he sometimes felt "brain dead".

He found plenty to enjoy about life in New Zealand, which was a "special place".

"It's always been a friendly place," he said in an interview.

A keen tramper, he enjoys this country's easy access to the outdoors and plans to come back again at some stage to walk the Milford Track.

He also appreciates the informal approach of New Zealand scientists - "I hate wearing ties".

He enjoys their helpful, collaborative spirit and says there is "really good science happening" in this country.

Carbon taxes, perhaps as a temporary measure, have an important role in giving an impetus to industry and society to find more sustainable approaches, he says.

Green chemistry seeks to operate sustainably and to reduce the production of harmful byproducts.

Prof Grubbs said that if costs, such as for energy, were reduced through more modern chemical processes, this would be beneficial commercially as well producing more environmentally friendly outcomes.

- john.gibb@odt.co.nz