Zhou Qilin and team win top science award

Chemist Zhou Qilin, 62, and his team at Nankai University received the first-class State Natural Science Award, the top scientific award of its kind in China, on Jan 10.

A chiral catalyst developed by the team in the course of 20 years’ research holds the world record for efficacy in the synthesis of chiral molecules, with one catalyst molecule able to convert 4.5 million substrate molecules.

Chirality or "handedness" is a phenomena, in which objects, likes a person’s hands, are mirror images of each other but cannot be superimposed identically.

Chiral molecules, which have left-handed and right-handed forms, became a research focus around the world in the early 1960s after Thalidomide, a drug used to treat morning sickness, caused many babies to be born with deformities. The right-handed form of Thalidomide was safe and effective, but the left-handed one was highly toxic.

The chiral spiro catalysts developed by Zhou’s team have been applied in the synthesis of many chiral molecules including chiral medicines.

The team’s achievements are all the more remarkable because of its unique way of advancing chemistry education and research in China, with other researchers impressed by its friendly research atmosphere.

Zhu Shoufei, a professor with the team who is now dean of the college of chemistry at Nankai University, said: "Zhou always pursues originality in research rather than the number of papers, which is quite different from other researchers"

Xie Jianhua, another professor at the college and team member, said, "our leader Zhou is noted for his preciseness, which was vital to the current results."

Zhou completed doctoral study at Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in the late 1980s and began postdoctoral research at East China University of Science and Technology.

He then went to Germany, Switzerland and the United States for further study.

He returned to East China University of Science and Technology in 1996, and joined Nankai University in 1999.

Zhou has called for the advancement of basic research in China, saying "many of the obstacles to the technology development in China are the result of inadequate basic research". He also wants to see the country devote more effort in science education to improve the scientific literacy of the whole nation.

Zhou, no longer head of the institute, is now focusing on new research on ways to replace fossil resource.

"I'm working on the conversion of carbon dioxide and biomass, which are seen as alternatives to the fossil resources in future." he said.

Wang Lixin, an analyst at the college, who joined the team 20 years ago, when it was founded, said she counted herself "lucky to be among the first members".

Zhou also encourages team members to appreciate the arts, including Peking Opera, in a bid to broaden their cultural horizons.

He even accepted students who majored in philosophy or English as his graduate students.