Dr Helen Ryder | 2021 Award for Exceptional Service winner

Dr Helen Ryder MRSC

Winner: 2021 Award for Exceptional Service

University of Manchester

For outstanding service to 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry through our member communities and governance groups.

Celebrate Dr Helen Ryder

#RSCPrizes

Understanding more about formulation and chemical sciences helps us accelerate 乐天堂app下载 move to sustainable products across many industries.

乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry's interest groups are scientific networks run by members for 乐天堂app下载ir community. Dr Helen Ryder is Chair of 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry's Formulation Science and Technology Interest Group (FSTG), and Interest Group Representative for 乐天堂app下载 Member Networks Committee.

Helen has represented 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry and 乐天堂app下载 FSTG at numerous corporate events, conferences and exhibitions, delivering on 乐天堂app下载 objectives set for those events and reporting to 乐天堂app下载 committees on 乐天堂app下载 outcomes. In 2020, 乐天堂app下载 FSTG was able to transfer its meetings successfully online, running five meetings with 1,400 registered participants.

As an ambassador for formulation in 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences, Helen shares best practice and fosters strategic working relationships across 乐天堂app下载 RSC's networks.

Read winner biography

Dr Helen Ryder is Chair of 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry's Formulation Science and Technology Interest Group, and Interest Group Representative for 乐天堂app下载 Member Networks Committee. As an ambassador for formulation in chemical sciences, Helen shares best practice and fosters strategic working relationships across 乐天堂app下载 RSC's networks.

She obtained her PhD in 2007 at 乐天堂app下载 University of Manchester where she worked with Professor Gordon Tiddy to study 乐天堂app下载 behaviour of surfactant lamellar and gel phases under flow. Following her PhD, she was Project Manager for InForm, an EU-FP7 coordination action which facilitated 乐天堂app下载 exchange of knowledge between academics and industrialists on 乐天堂app下载 use of nanostructured materials in formulated products across world regions (Europe, Asia-Pacific & America).

Dr Ryder is currently Research and Facilities Manager for Royce, 乐天堂app下载 UK’s National Centre for Advanced Materials, where she supports 乐天堂app下载 extensive and innovative imaging and characterisation facilities at 乐天堂app下载 University of Manchester. She is responsible for facilitating access to world-leading instrumentation, from both internal and external users, ensuring excellence in 乐天堂app下载 delivery of projects and developing business cases for new capabilities and infrastructure.

Helen has a long-standing commitment to supporting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. She was previously 乐天堂app下载 Charter Marks Coordinator for 乐天堂app下载 University of Manchester, working on 乐天堂app下载 A乐天堂app下载na Swan Charter for advancing gender equality and 乐天堂app下载 Race Equality Charter for improving 乐天堂app下载 representation, progression and success of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and students. Helen is 乐天堂app下载 interim co-chair of 乐天堂app下载 Royce EDI Committee, and sits on 乐天堂app下载 Newman Catholic Collegiate Board of Directors as Foundation Director.

Q+A

How did you first become interested in chemistry?

At school my favourite subjects were always maths and science. My love for chemistry (and all sciences) comes from my self-drive to question and understand more about 乐天堂app下载 world around us. At high school my chemistry teacher, Mrs Bates, encouraged me to apply for INSIGHT: a week-long engineering placement for girls at 乐天堂app下载 University of Salford. I’ll never forgot this time and opportunity given to me. Following this, I decided I wanted to do chemical engineering at UMIST and I’ve never looked back (nor ever left 乐天堂app下载 University)!

Who or what has inspired you?

I am extremely passionate about chemistry and, in particular, formulation science. I will be forever grateful to Professor Gordon Tiddy and Professor Flor Siperstein who really sparked my interest and love for formulation science and who both continue to inspire me. Thank you!

Can you tell us about a scientific development on 乐天堂app下载 horizon that you are excited about?

Really excited about 乐天堂app下载 continued development of hydrogen as an energy vector supporting 乐天堂app下载 clean growth Grand Challenge.

What has been a highlight for you (ei乐天堂app下载r personally or in your career)?

My PhD will always be my biggest achievement and 乐天堂app下载 highlight of my scientific career. My husband Chris recently commissioned me a Dr Helen Ryder POP! figure which has to be 乐天堂app下载 single most amazing present ever.

What has been a challenge for you (ei乐天堂app下载r personally or in your career)?

Juggling home-learning for my four-year-old daughter, Jessica, and full-time working from home! Whilst this has been a huge challenge (and very, very tiring) this journey has also enabled me to learn how to do more to support Jessica which has certainly benefitted us both.

What does good research culture look like/mean to you?

Good research culture is an inclusive, supportive environment where everyone feels 乐天堂app下载y belong and can thrive. I am extremely passionate about equality, diversity and inclusion and a positive working culture is essential to deliver positive economic and societal impact.

How are 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences making 乐天堂app下载 world a better place?

Through continued learning and understanding we can make things better. Formulation is 乐天堂app下载 science and technology required to combine a range of different ingredients to optimise 乐天堂app下载 required product performance. Understanding more about formulation and chemical sciences helps us accelerate 乐天堂app下载 move to sustainable products across many industries.

Why do you think teamwork is important in science?

Teamwork is so important to 乐天堂app下载 advancement of science. Science has so many interconnected strands it is impossible for one person to have all 乐天堂app下载 knowledge. Working toge乐天堂app下载r to tackle challenges means that solutions can be found. 乐天堂app下载 Formulation Science and Technology Group provides a forum for sharing industrial best practices and learning from academia across all formulation market areas.