SOME say chemistry is a Cinderella slaving away neglected in science's cellar. But these critics are undoubtedly kin to the envious ugly sisters. Chemistry is the central science. Drawing on basic principles of physics, it feeds into the biological, Earth and materials sciences, and even underlies a whole branch of engineering.
As such, chemistry departments are increasingly emphasising specialist subjects. And we can now regard some key disciplines, such as biochemistry and molecular biology, as the successful grown-up offspring of chemistry. The Manchester chemistry graduate Michael Smith, for example, won a Nobel prize for his contribution to gene technology.
The strength of chemistry lies in the breadth and diversity of its applications, but perhaps its importance is overlooked because the most exciting progress is now being made at the interface with other subjects. And more than this, chemistry is creative. As I write, chemists are designing molecules that exhibit all ...
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