Fraser Stoddart is a chemist who has developed techniques to synthesise molecules that are connected via mechanical means. His pioneering work on the design and manufacture of an entirely new class of chemical compounds has great potential in the field of nanoscale engineering.

Among the structures Fraser has found a way to synthesise more efficiently are molecular rings that interlock with each other or else are threaded along an axis. Mechanical devices such as these can be used in the construction of switches, sensors and motors that are smaller than a human cell, leaving considerable scope for medical applications.

The development of what he refers to as ‘molecular meccano’ has won him numerous fellowships and awards, include the Davy Medal of the Royal Society. In 2007, he was awarded a knighthood for his services to chemistry and molecular nanotechnology.