Thursday, January 23, 2025
MacMillan, who won the prize in 2021, is currently a James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor of Chemistry at Princeton University.
The Science Research and AP Chemistry programs at the high school offer students an in-depth exploration of scientific inquiry and advanced concepts in chemistry. They are encouraged to engage in hands-on research and expand their understanding of how scientific principles apply to the real world, science teacher Chuck Vessalico explained.
“I think it’s probably the most important program, because it teaches them not only the science, but the ability to work in science: soft skills, how to communicate with scientists, how to actually publish their research,” Vessalico said.
MacMillan shared the Nobel Prize with Benjamin List, for the development of asymmetric organocatalysis, a groundbreaking advancement in chemistry that opened up new possibilities in drug development, including more targeted and cost-effective treatments, and has had a profound impact on synthetic chemistry.
MacMillan and List’s discovery helps scientists create special “chiral” molecules, which are vital to pharmaceuticals, agriculture and materials science, faster and easier. In medicine, the right chiral molecule can help a drug work more effectively and without side effects. Their research has also paved the way for innovations in green chemistry.
Lynbrook High School senior Katy Gottlieb, who researched the effects of ultraviolet rays on cellular and DNA repair, was named a semifinalist in the 2025 Coca-Cola Scholar program. She said she felt inspired by how MacMillan and his team continued their research despite what he described as 17 months of obstacles.
“Perseverance and determination are huge in research, and to keep trying even though you might fail,” Gottlieb said. “That was a great thing to hear, especially with how successful he is.”
While MacMillan’s accomplishments are known around the world, he has a personal connection to New York. He was raised in Scotland, but his family lived for a time on Long Island during his childhood. It was then that he developed a passion for science, which led to a career that has shaped modern chemistry.
After earning an undergraduate degree in chemistry at Edinburgh University, he went on to complete a Ph.D. there before continuing postdoctoral research at Heriot-Watt University. His career has taken him to prestigious institutions including the California Institute of Technology and Princeton.
MacMillan continues to expand the frontiers of chemistry, where it intersects with biology and environmental science, with the potential to influence a wide range of industries, from health care to manufacturing.
He said he finds a metaphoric tie between his research in catalysis — the process of speeding up a chemical reaction with a catalyst — and helping students make the most of their curiosity.
“It’s catalyzing people to think about science, catalyzing people to think about careers,” he said. “So, there’s all these symbols of catalysis that go beyond the research.”
The students said that listening to MacMillan gave them invaluable insight into the impact of scientific innovation, and sharpened their own research ambitions.
“I talked about my sister, who’s 55 and went to university,” MacMillan said. “It’s never too late. If you’re really curious and if you’re willing to learn, then go for it.”
