October 25, 2025
Professor Pall Thordarson FRSN, of the UNSW School of Chemistry, has been awarded the Leighton Memorial Medal of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute. The award recognises outstanding contributions to research, technology, leadership and the advancement of the chemical sciences.
Pall Thordarson started his academic career as an organic chemist, studying and creating carbon-based molecules – the building blocks of life and many modern materials.
“I’ve always been interested in the interface between chemistry and biology,” he said. “Life itself is the ultimate complex chemical system.”
Known in science and medical circles for his breakthroughs using supramolecular chemistry and nanotechnology that mimic biological systems, Professor Thordarson’s work has resulted in life-changing products. These include smart gels and biodevices, some of which help anti-cancer drugs kill tumorous cells, reducing the side effects of chemotherapy, and others that have led to the creation of better biosensors for medical applications.
As Director of Australia’s first and leading RNA research hub, the UNSW RNA Institute, Prof. Thordarson oversees pioneering research in biology, chemistry and medicine. His teams are working to advance RNA technologies and therapeutics for products such as vaccines and treatments for diseases.
The Council of the Royal Society of NSW extends its warm congratulations to Professor Thordarson on the RACI’s award in recognition of his career achievements.
