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Paul Walton obtained his PhD in 1990, followed by two years as a NATO/SERC postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Berkeley, USA. He joined the Department of Chemistry at York as a faculty member in 1993. Between 2004 and 2010 he was chair of department. His main research area is bioinorganic chemistry, in which he has made contributions to the understanding of copper oxidases, including the discovery of the histidine brace, the bioinformatic method of signal-strapping and anglerase metalloproteins. Paul is an internationally-known advocate of equality in sciences and lectures widely on the subject.  

He is the recipient of multiple national* and international** awards, including:

Teaching: RSC's Higher Education Teaching Award,** Vice-Chancellor's Teaching Award.

Research: Gertrude Cropper Award, RSC's Joseph Chatt Award,** IChemE's Global Energy Award,** RSC's Rita and John Cornforth Award,** University of Chalmers Jubilee professor 2020.**

Equality: RSC Inclusion and Diversity Prize,** 2025, Royal Society's inaugural Athena Prize* (runner-up). WISE man of the year shortlist.*

He has also been Editor of Dalton Transactions (2004-2008), chair of Heads of Chemistry UK, chair of the ÍâÍøÌìÌÃ's Diversity Committee, was named as a 'Person of Influence' by the University of Toronto's Women in Chemistry Group and is one of the RSC's 175 Faces of Chemistry.

Dr Danielle (Dani) Pearson is an Assistant Professor and Deputy Director of Teaching Laboratories at the University of Warwick. She is committed to improving the way students learn chemistry in University laboratories by creating supportive, inclusive, and accessible environments. Her work combines research-informed teaching with innovative learning resources to help students build confidence and succeed in laboratory settings.
 
Dani is widely recognised for her leadership in Women in Chemistry initiatives. She plays a key role in shaping Warwick’s Women in Chemistry community, particularly through leading the department’s annual Women in Chemistry Alumni Event, now in its seventh year. This event connects students with alumnae working across academia and industry, offering open conversations about careers, confidence, and experiences in the chemical sciences. Feedback highlights how valuable this event is for students’ development and sense of belonging. Dani also runs an active Women in Chemistry digital outreach presence that shares welcoming, relatable content and highlights diverse chemists and career paths.
 
Beyond gender-focused work, Dani is committed to wider EDI and disability inclusion. As the departmental Disabled Student Champion, she has co-led University-wide improvements to reasonable adjustments in teaching laboratories, helping to strengthen equitable practice across Warwick