TÜBA Member Prof. Yaghi Receives Soong Award from IUPAC
Prof. Omar M. Yaghi from the University of California, Berkeley, Honorary Member of TÜBA, has been awarded the IUPAC-Soong Prize for Sustainable Chemistry by the International Union of Fundamental and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC).
Prof. Yaghi was awarded the first “2025 IUPAC-Soong Prize” in sustainable chemistry for his groundbreaking work in reticular chemistry, which he founded, revolutionizing the chemistry of creating new materials and providing new solutions to the climate and water challenges facing our planet.
“This award reflects the deep commitment of the scientific community, especially IUPAC, to tackle the global challenges of sustainability. I am honored to receive this recognition and proud to contribute to a vision where science makes an impact in the real world.”
Prof. Ehud Keinan, President of IUPAC, said: “Prof. Yaghi exemplifies the spirit of innovation and environmental responsibility. His work strengthens global efforts to combat climate change and address water scarcity through chemistry.”
Yaghi's innovative research has led to the development of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs) with great potential in carbon capture, clean energy storage and atmospheric water harvesting, Yaghi's discoveries have advanced fundamental chemistry and transformed it into scalable solutions for a more sustainable future. He has received numerous international awards, including the prestigious Wolf Prize, ENI Prize, Balzan Prize, Solvay Prize and Tang Prize.
The IUPAC-Soong Prize, awarded annually to an outstanding scientist for a breakthrough discovery or conceptual advance, emphasizes discovery over the laureate's brilliant career. Launched in 2025, the award program recognizes scientists whose chemistry-related research directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The award includes a certificate, a commemorative medal and a cash prize of $30,000 (USD) to be presented at the upcoming IUPAC World Chemistry Congress (July 14-19, 2025) and an invitation to deliver a plenary lecture at National Taiwan University.
Who is Prof. Omar M. Yaghi?
He was born in 1965 in Amman/Jordan. After completing his secondary education at Hudson Valley Community College, Omar M. Yaghi graduated from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign at the age of 20, where he studied under Prof. Walter G. Klemperer and received his PhD in 1990 at the age of 25. After two years as a National Science Foundation (NSF) postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University working with Professor Richard H. Holm, Prof. Omar M. Yaghi was appointed as a faculty member at Arizona State University (1992-1998), then as a faculty member at the University of Michigan (1999-2006) and then at the University of California, Los Angeles (2007-2012). Since 2012, Prof. Yaghi has been the Neeltje Tretter Professor of Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley.