Rugby School welcomes Andrew Ward, PhD researcher, to discuss scientific innovation

Rugby School was delighted to welcome Andrew Ward, a PhD researcher at the University of Warwick, who delivered a dynamic talk linking GCSE and A-level Chemistry to real scientific innovation. Andrew previously studied Chemistry at the University of St Andrews and has worked both in education and research.

He introduced pupils to his work on catalysts, including enzymes designed to convert crude oil into valuable synthetic products. A highlight of the talk was his discovery that a Diels–Alder reaction—usually taking 1–2 weeks with only a 10% yield -can be completed in minutes using a microwave, achieving a 100% yield.

Andrew also offered valuable advice about success in research, emphasising the importance of resilience and a growth mindset:

“You telling yourself that you can’t do it is the biggest barrier.”

He went on to describe his PhD research on metal–ligand complexes, showing how changing the metal centre and ligands affects catalytic behaviour. Pupils saw examples of rhodium complexes, including the square-planar Rh⁺ ion with its d⁸ electron configuration. One aim of his research is to design catalysts that remove oxygen from nitrous oxide (N₂O) to produce harmless nitrogen—a challenging task due to the catalysts’ extreme sensitivity to air and moisture.

Andrew also introduced students to computational chemistry, demonstrating how quantum-mechanical software predicts reaction energy barriers and helps identify the most promising catalysts before costly experimental work begins.

He recently secured an internship at the House of Commons and hopes to enter the Civil Service, reflecting the determination and growth mindset he encouraged pupils to cultivate.