2020 Professor Penelope Brothers Hon FRSNZ
Inspiration from nature – swapping the iron in blood and lighting up sugars
In this presentation, Professor Penelope Brothers will discuss how iron in haemoglobin and magnesium in chlorophyll both sit in the centre of a donut-shaped porphyrin molecule. She will then explore how the periodic table provides a playground of elements which can be incorporated into porphyrin in their place, allowing the exploration of new possibilities for energy capture, toxic metal encapsulation, chemical sensors and drug discovery.