Fraser Stoddart, a Nobel laureate in chemistry and chair professor at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) hailed for changing the way chemists think about materials science and molecular nanotechnology, has died. He was 82.
Advertisement
HKU said on Tuesday it was deeply saddened by the death of Stoddart, who received his Nobel Prize in 2016 and joined the department of chemistry last year.
The cause of death has not been disclosed.
“The university was privileged to have Professor Stoddart as a chair professor in the department of chemistry, where he established a cutting-edge laboratory to advance research in a wide range of areas, including molecular machines and carbohydrate chemistry,” the university said.
“Together with the team of outstanding scholars and students he assembled, Professor Stoddart contributed to the enhancement of HKU’s profile and prestige as a leading institution in teaching and research globally.”
Advertisement
Stoddart joined HKU in September last year amid an escalating row between university president Xiang Zhang and Priscilla Wong Pui-sze, chairwoman of the school’s governing council.