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Among the most recent additions to the University of Leicester’s School of Chemistry, which marks its Centenary this year, is the Science Kitchen, where baking is used to illustrate the principles of chemistry. In that spirit, we begin the story of the school with our first ingredients: three undergraduate students and a lecturer, Dr Louis Hunter (pictured, right), who first opened the doors to the Chemistry Department in 1925.

Â鶹APP itself was founded in 1921 as a living memorial to the First World War, funded through public donations from the people of Leicester. In these early years, Chemistry was a minor part of the curriculum, but in 1924 the University College’s board proposed the addition of in order to increase student numbers. And the enthusiasm for Chemistry was high, with over 100 students applying in those early years. 

For Dr Hunter, this meant assembling makeshift laboratories in the Fielding Johnson Building, converting space in the old County Asylum building. It wouldn’t be until the 1960s that the department would move into its current home in the George Porter Building, named for the Nobel Prize-winning chemist who served as the University's Chancellor from 1985 to 1995.

From a mere three students in 1925 to around 250 studying Chemistry in Leicester today in 2025, the department has built a legacy of scientific curiosity, practical innovation, and a truly global outlook.

From its earliest days, there were pioneering women in the department who laid the foundation for future generations of female chemists at Leicester. Their achievements, from breaking new ground in research to shaping the department as lecturers, reflect the changing landscape of chemistry and academia. Today, their legacy lives on in the many women who continue to excel in chemistry at Leicester, ensuring that the spirit of innovation and inclusion remains at the heart of the School.

In 1927, the first Chemistry students completed their programmes and Anne C Taylor was amongst them, having completed her BSc in Botany with a subsidiary subject of Chemistry. Florence Cornwell and Isabel M Bunnett would do the same in 1929 and 1936 respectively. It was Florence Marjorie Elkins who became the first woman to complete a BSc in Chemistry at Leicester in 1934, soon followed by Marie Leamon, Barbara Wardle and Edith Brown in 1936.

Majorie Elkins would continue post-graduate studies at Leicester and was appointed as Research Assistant from 1940-1944. Three years later, the Chemistry department hired the School’s first women Chemistry lecturers: Dr Florence Ruth Shaw and Dr Brenda M Prestt (Irlam). 

Over the decades, Chemistry at Leicester flourished, keeping pace with the rapid evolution of the field. The 1960s saw the introduction of modern spectroscopy techniques, while the 1980s and 1990s witnessed significant advances in materials chemistry and catalysis. The turn of the 21st century brought further expansion, with new research centres and collaborations reinforcing Leicester’s reputation as a hub of scientific innovation.

Research in the department led to breakthroughs in sustainable synthesis and catalysis, fluorine chemistry, spectroscopy and atmospheric chemistry, materials and electrochemistry, and chemical biology, driving innovation with real-world impact. Leicester chemists are addressing global challenges, from designing novel therapeutics to developing materials for next-generation energy storage.

The department has made great strides in forensics, working on a technique to visualise fingerprints from bullet casings that was among . Professor Rob Hillman continues to work on methods of visualising fingerprints.

Tackling one of the significant barriers to the adoption of green technologies, Leicester chemists are also looking at new ways of recycling batteries - from using ultrasound to vegetable oil. They have used Real-time Air Fingerprinting Technology (RAFT) to determine how ripe fruit is, and developed smart nanoparticles called MIPs (Molecularly Imprinted Polymers) as alternatives to antibodies.

Leicester chemists have never been shy about sharing their knowledge and passion for their subject;  one of their most celebrated graduates is Professor Peter W. Atkins (Chemistry BSc, 1961; PhD, 1964; Honorary DSc, 2002), a prolific author of popular chemistry textbooks and acclaimed science books for the general public. They have embraced novel approaches to education, such as putting students’ skills to the test in real-world industry by conducting a gin-making experiment. And they have worked to make chemistry a more inclusive discipline and open up opportunities for the next generation of chemists, such as through the PolyMErise project, echoing those pioneering female students that broke the mould for chemistry at Leicester. The department’s global outlook is reflected in its role in the Dalian Leicester Institute, a joint Sino-British institution delivering Leicester Chemistry degrees in China and advancing innovation in education and research. 

And most recently, chemistry researcher and Great British Bake Off 2023 finalist Dr Josh Smalley (pictured, left) opened the Science Kitchen to raise awareness of the opportunities chemistry can offer students. The dedicated space on campus showcases the chemistry behind cooking and using baking as a means to highlight science to everyone.

Now that really is the icing on the cake.

With acknowledgements to Dr Sandy Kilpatrick and Professor Rob Hillman in the School of Chemistry.

All images are credit to 'University of Leicester Archives & Special Collections’ except where noted.