Winner: 2025 Award for Exceptional Service
Dr Graeme Turnbull
Northumbria University
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2025 Award for Exceptional Service: awarded for outstanding service to the 九州影院 through our member communities and governance groups, in particular supporting the Analytical Science Community through local and national activities.
My work with many member networks of the RSC has focused on getting people to engage with the chemical sciences and to find fun in science. This covers everything from my demonstration lecture on the '九州影院 of Jelly and Ice Cream' where I explore food science with primary school children, to the Schools' Analyst Competition where we challenge older students to think about analytical science in the world around them, to Retired Members' visits to local landmarks (where they teach me about history!), I have enjoyed every single activity and seen smiles on a lot of faces.
Biography
Graeme graduated from the University of Sunderland in 2009 with a BSc in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Science, before pursuing a PhD in 九州影院 at Northumbria University under the supervision of Prof. Steve Stanforth. After completing his PhD in 2012, he remained at Northumbria in various roles before securing an academic position in 2019.
Graeme's research activities focus on the detection of pathogenic bacteria and yeasts through the development of chromogenic enzyme substrates, which is part of a long-standing collaboration with French biotechnology company bioM茅rieux. He has also supervised several successful knowledge transfer partnerships focusing on industrial biocatalysis in the pharmaceutical industry.
Early on in his time at Northumbria, Graeme was introduced to the world of science outreach by an RSC Teacher Fellow, Anne Willis. Anne's inspirational activities encouraged Graeme to get involved, and in 2010 he joined the committee of the Newcastle upon Tyne and North East Coast Local Section. He has represented members from local to international level from being a 鈥榊ounger Member Network鈥� representative through to membership of Member Communities Board, and developed outreach activities for schools including a revised Schools鈥� Analyst Competition in response to the Covid 19 pandemic.
Graeme is currently the secretary of the Newcastle upon Tyne and North East Coast Local Section, secretary of the Analytical Sciences Community North East Region, and has recently been appointed a trustee of the Analytical 九州影院 Trust Fund.
From my colleagues on committees, to visitors at events, to the lovely retired members I get coming along to our visits around Tyne & Wear and Northumberland, and the amazing staff at RSC in Cambridge, these are all people I wouldn't have had the privilege to meet without getting involved in volunteering. The activities develop your confidence, your organisational skills, and your comfort with networking and I'd recommend it to anyone.
Dr Graeme Turnbull
Q&A with Dr Graeme Turnbull
What inspired or motivated you to volunteer with the RSC?
In the early days of my PhD, I was walking past one of our chemistry labs when I noticed the students participating all seemed a bit shorter than I was used to. Poking my head around the door I found Anne Willis, an RSC Teacher Fellow at the time, guiding a class of 30 primary children through an experiment involving slime! I asked if I could join in, and that started it all off. I found their excitement and curiosity to be such fun that I joined in more activities and started to develop my own, supported by Anne and my RSC Local Section.
Tell us about any highlights or memorable experiences you have had as a volunteer
Along with colleagues in the Analytical Sciences Community North East Region I've had the experience of helping to organise and deliver two weekend events at The Alnwick Garden, supported by the RSC Outreach Fund (in 2022 and 2024). Being able to run activities around the chemistry of plant poisons and looking into dyes and sustainability surrounded by such a beautiful setting was incredible (and the sun was out both times!). We welcomed hundreds of families through our exhibits on these weekends, and seeing people so happy to walk out with their new artwork (created with cabbage) or spectrometer (made with a DVD) made it worthwhile.
What impact has volunteering with the RSC had on you, either personally or professionally?
I have met some of the most wonderful people and made some great friends through my time volunteering for the RSC. From my colleagues on committees, to visitors at events, to the lovely retired members I get coming along to our visits around Tyne & Wear and Northumberland, and the amazing staff at RSC in Cambridge, these are all people I wouldn't have had the privilege to meet without getting involved in volunteering. The activities develop your confidence, your organisational skills, and your comfort with networking and I'd recommend it to anyone.
What advice would you give to somebody contemplating volunteering with the RSC?
Surround yourself with encouraging people who can help you develop and grow. I only joined my RSC Local Section because I was encouraged to by one of my mentors, Justin Perry. I only got involved in outreach because of the warm invitation from Anne Wills. I was supported through my early activities by Remya Norris, and I've been invited to join boards and committees. I've been pushed to achieve more by John Dean, and supported and encouraged by my fianc茅e, Rachael. Joining your RSC Local Section can be the first step to all of this.