Jim Feast is a chemist renowned for his contributions to the field of polymer synthesis. Over the course of his career, Jim has devised new routes for the construction of numerous valuable materials, including the organic polymer polyacetylene.

Highly sought after for use in chemical research, as well as for its many commercial applications, Jim’s work made polyacetylene available to chemists in a controlled form for the very first time. The technique for its synthesis is now known as the Durham precursor route after the university where Jim undertook its development. His farsighted work has paved the way for much future research on conducting and semiconducting organic polymers.

Currently an Emeritus Research Professor at the Durham University, Jim has served on the advisory boards of numerous prestigious international journals. Appointed a CBE in 2007 for his services to polymer chemistry, he was awarded the Royal Society’s Royal Medal later that same year.