David K. Smith

Not to be confused with David Smith (chemical physicist).

David K. Smith
Alma materUniversity of Oxford
Known forYouTube chemistry education channel
Scientific career
FieldsNanochemistry
InstitutionsUniversity of York
Websitewww.york.ac.uk/chemistry/staff/academic/o-s/dsmith/

David Kelham Smith is a professor of chemistry at the University of York in England. His research focuses on nanochemistry and self-assembling nanomaterials.[1] Smith is also well known for his education and public outreach activities, such as his channel dedicated to combatting chemistry disparagement.[2] Smith is openly gay and has been described as "one of the most visible out gay scientists."[3]

Academic career

Smith received his undergraduate degree from the University of Oxford in 1992 and his Ph.D. in 1996 under the supervision of Paul Beer, after which he was a postdoctoral fellow with François Diederich. He began his career as a lecturer at University of York in 1999 and was promoted to professor in 2006.[4]

Research

Smith's research group studies the properties of nanomaterials, particularly self-assembling molecular gels,[1] which may have a variety of practical applications including in biomaterials and in the construction of molecular electronics.[5] He became interested in applications to biomaterials after observing the medical treatments needed by his late partner, who had cystic fibrosis,[1][3] and has studied the potential applications of nanogels in drug delivery.[6][7]

Smith was awarded the Bob Hay Lectureship in 2010 and the Corday Morgan Award in 2012 by the Royal Society of Chemistry in recognition of his contributions to the field.[4]

Teaching and outreach

Smith is the Chair of Teaching in the University of York Chemistry Department[4] and is well known for his interest in chemistry education and public outreach about chemistry-related topics.[2] He frequently speaks at public events and to schoolchildren about his personal experience as a scientist. He also maintains a widely followed YouTube channel for chemistry education[2][3] and has published on his experiences using video as an educational tool.[8]

Smith received the Royal Society of Chemistry's Higher Education Award in 2005, awarded a National Teaching Fellowship in 2013, and was named as one of 175 Faces of Chemistry in 2015.[9][10]

In addition to science education work, Smith also writes about diversity in science and about the need for scientist role models from the LGBT community.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Professor David K. Smith". Department of Chemistry. University of York. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  2. ^ a b c Smith, David K. (September 2011). "From crazy chemists to engaged learners through education". Nature Chemistry. 3 (9): 681–684. Bibcode:2011NatCh...3..681S. doi:10.1038/nchem.1091. ISSN 1755-4330. PMID 21860454.
  3. ^ a b c Banham, Andrea; Mizen, Jenifer. "Professor Dave Smith FRSC". 175 Faces of Chemistry: Celebrating Diversity in Science. Royal Society of Chemistry. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  4. ^ a b c "David K. Smith - Group Leader". Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  5. ^ Hirst, Andrew R.; Escuder, Beatriu; Miravet, Juan F.; Smith, David K. (6 October 2008). "High-Tech Applications of Self-Assembling Supramolecular Nanostructured Gel-Phase Materials: From Regenerative Medicine to Electronic Devices". Angewandte Chemie International Edition. 47 (42): 8002–8018. doi:10.1002/anie.200800022. PMID 18825737.
  6. ^ Howe, Edward J.; Okesolaa, Babatunde O.; Smith, David K. (31 March 2015). "Self-assembled sorbitol-derived supramolecular hydrogels for the controlled encapsulation and release of active pharmaceutical ingredients" (PDF). Chemical Communications. 51 (35): 7451–7454. doi:10.1039/C5CC01868D. PMID 25824859.
  7. ^ "Student helps to discover new pain relief delivery method". Phys.org. 1 April 2015.
  8. ^ Smith, David K. (14 October 2014). "iTube, YouTube, WeTube: Social Media Videos in Chemistry Education and Outreach". Journal of Chemical Education. 91 (10): 1594–1599. Bibcode:2014JChEd..91.1594S. doi:10.1021/ed400715s. ISSN 0021-9584.
  9. ^ "Highlights - About staff, The University of York". www.york.ac.uk. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  10. ^ "175 Faces of Chemistry - Research Database, The University of York". pure.york.ac.uk. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  11. ^ Smith, David K. (1 April 2014). "'No sexuality please, we're scientists'". Chemistry World. Royal Society of Chemistry. Retrieved 8 June 2015.