Graham Richards
Encyclopedia
Professor William Graham Richards C.B.E., M.A., D.Phil, D.Sc, C.Chem
, FRSC
was born 1 October 1939 in Hoylake
, Cheshire
and was Head of Chemistry (1997-2006) at the University of Oxford
. He is a Fellow of Brasenose College, Oxford
and the author of 300 scientific articles and 15 books. He is a council member of the Royal Society of Chemistry
and of The Royal Institution
.
Graham Richards was educated at Birkenhead School
where he won a scholarship to Brasenose College, Oxford. He applied computational techniques to solving quantum mechanical
problems in theoretical chemistry at the Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory
, Oxford and became was one of the pioneers in the field of computer-aided molecular design for industry, particularly in pharmaceuticals.
His work has been recognised by awards including the Mullard Award of The Royal Society
, Lord Lloyd of Kilgerran Prize
, the Italgas Prize and the 2004 Award of the American Chemical Society for Computers in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research. He is a council member of the Royal Society of Chemistry
and of the Royal Institution
.
He was one of the co-founders (with Tony Marchington
) of Oxford Molecular Ltd. which was worth £450 million at its peak but which was eventually sold for £70million. He also helped set up Isis Innovation, Oxford's technology transfer company that has brought around 60 spin-out companies into existence, generating tens of millions of pounds of income for the university.
He instigated a screensaver
project which exploited idle time on over three million personal computers in over 200 countries to screen 3.5 billion compounds against protein targets. This led to the formation of the spin-out company Inhibox Ltd. where Professor Richards now conducts his research. He donated his shares in the company to a cancer research charity in 2002. He is a non-executive director of IP Group plc.
His first wife, Jessamy, died in 1988. He is now married to Mary E. Phillips, director of research planning at University College London
. He has two sons and three stepchildren.
Chartered Chemist
Chartered Chemist is a chartered status awarded by the Royal Society of Chemistry in the United Kingdom and by the Royal Australian Chemical Institute in Australia....
, FRSC
Royal Society of Chemistry
The Royal Society of Chemistry is a learned society in the United Kingdom with the goal of "advancing the chemical sciences." It was formed in 1980 from the merger of the Chemical Society, the Royal Institute of Chemistry, the Faraday Society and the Society for Analytical Chemistry with a new...
was born 1 October 1939 in Hoylake
Hoylake
Hoylake is a seaside town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, on Merseyside, England. It is located at the north western corner of the Wirral Peninsula, near to the town of West Kirby and where the River Dee estuary meets the Irish Sea...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
and was Head of Chemistry (1997-2006) at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. He is a Fellow of Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, originally Brazen Nose College , is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. As of 2006, it has an estimated financial endowment of £98m...
and the author of 300 scientific articles and 15 books. He is a council member of the Royal Society of Chemistry
Royal Society of Chemistry
The Royal Society of Chemistry is a learned society in the United Kingdom with the goal of "advancing the chemical sciences." It was formed in 1980 from the merger of the Chemical Society, the Royal Institute of Chemistry, the Faraday Society and the Society for Analytical Chemistry with a new...
and of The Royal Institution
Royal Institution
The Royal Institution of Great Britain is an organization devoted to scientific education and research, based in London.-Overview:...
.
Graham Richards was educated at Birkenhead School
Birkenhead School
Birkenhead School is an independent, selective, co-educational school located on the Wirral Peninsula in the northwest of England. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference.-Overview:The school is subdivided into...
where he won a scholarship to Brasenose College, Oxford. He applied computational techniques to solving quantum mechanical
Quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics, also known as quantum physics or quantum theory, is a branch of physics providing a mathematical description of much of the dual particle-like and wave-like behavior and interactions of energy and matter. It departs from classical mechanics primarily at the atomic and subatomic...
problems in theoretical chemistry at the Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory
Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory
The Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory is a major chemistry laboratory at the University of Oxford, England. It is located in main Science Area of the University on South Parks Road...
, Oxford and became was one of the pioneers in the field of computer-aided molecular design for industry, particularly in pharmaceuticals.
His work has been recognised by awards including the Mullard Award of The Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
, Lord Lloyd of Kilgerran Prize
Foundation for Science and Technology
The Foundation for Science and Technology is a forum in the United Kingdom for discussing policy issues that have a science, engineering or technology element...
, the Italgas Prize and the 2004 Award of the American Chemical Society for Computers in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research. He is a council member of the Royal Society of Chemistry
Royal Society of Chemistry
The Royal Society of Chemistry is a learned society in the United Kingdom with the goal of "advancing the chemical sciences." It was formed in 1980 from the merger of the Chemical Society, the Royal Institute of Chemistry, the Faraday Society and the Society for Analytical Chemistry with a new...
and of the Royal Institution
Royal Institution
The Royal Institution of Great Britain is an organization devoted to scientific education and research, based in London.-Overview:...
.
He was one of the co-founders (with Tony Marchington
Tony Marchington
Dr Tony Marchington was an English biotechnology entrepreneur and businessman, famous as the co-founder of Oxford Molecular, and the former owner of Class A3 4472 Flying Scotsman.-Early life:...
) of Oxford Molecular Ltd. which was worth £450 million at its peak but which was eventually sold for £70million. He also helped set up Isis Innovation, Oxford's technology transfer company that has brought around 60 spin-out companies into existence, generating tens of millions of pounds of income for the university.
He instigated a screensaver
Screensaver
A screensaver is a type of computer program initially designed to prevent phosphor burn-in on CRT and plasma computer monitors by blanking the screen or filling it with moving images or patterns when the computer is not in use...
project which exploited idle time on over three million personal computers in over 200 countries to screen 3.5 billion compounds against protein targets. This led to the formation of the spin-out company Inhibox Ltd. where Professor Richards now conducts his research. He donated his shares in the company to a cancer research charity in 2002. He is a non-executive director of IP Group plc.
His first wife, Jessamy, died in 1988. He is now married to Mary E. Phillips, director of research planning at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
. He has two sons and three stepchildren.