Ryoji Noyori

Ryoji Noyori (野依良治, Noyori Ryōji^{Sharpless epoxidation).}

Ryoji Noyori was born in Kobe, Japan. He became fascinated with chemistry at the age of 12, after hearing a presentation on Elias J. Corey at Harvard he returned to Nagoya, becoming a full professor in 1972. He is still based at Nagoya, though he is also now president of RIKEN, a multi-site national research initiative with an annual budget of $800 million. In 2005, Noyori became Honorary Doctor at Technical University of Munich and RWTH Aachen University, Germany.

Noyori believes strongly in the power of green chemistry; in a recent article he argues for the pursuit of "practical elegance in synthesis".^[1] In this article he states that "our ability to devise straightforward and practical chemical syntheses is indispensable to the survival of our species." Elsewhere he has said that "Research is for nations and mankind, not for researchers themselves." He encourages scientists to be politically active- "Researchers must spur public opinions and government policies toward constructing the sustainable society in the 21st century."^[2]

Noyori is currently a chairman of the Education Rebuilding Council, which was set up by Japan's PM Shinzo Abe after he came to power in 2006 [1].