**2025: A Year of Trials and Changes in Chemistry**
In 2025, the Chemistry World team experienced a tempestuous year, grappling with a multitude of key developments that influenced the realm of chemical sciences. From crises within institutions to shifting global policies, this is a retrospective examination of some of the year’s most notable narratives.
**Crisis in UK Chemistry Departments**
UK chemistry departments found themselves in turmoil as several universities revealed intentions to reduce course offerings, merge with other disciplines, or discontinue operations entirely due to financial limitations. The University of Bradford, in particular, opted to terminate its chemistry courses, while Cardiff University and the University of East Anglia readied themselves to cut faculty positions. These actions underscore a troubling trend of ‘chemistry cold spots’, which the Royal Society of Chemistry cautions will be detrimental to students from lower socio-economic backgrounds and may influence the industrial strategy of the UK.
**Academic Turbulence Under Trump 2.0 in the US**
The Trump administration, with Elon Musk at the helm of governmental efficiency, implemented policies that led to chaos in US academia. The administration enacted substantial reductions in federal funding, particularly targeting diversity initiatives, mRNA vaccines, and other programs, resulting in disruptions to research financing. Universities engaged in legal disputes over the cancellation of research funds, and immigration enforcement actions jeopardized the influx of international students and researchers, exacerbating academic instability.
**Generative AI: Blessing or Curse?**
The surge of generative AI tools such as Chat GPT showcased their dual aspects. While they offered enhanced access to computational chemistry, they also posed challenges related to possible research misconduct and quality assurance. Researchers faced difficulties distinguishing between authentic and AI-generated microscopy images, igniting discussions about a ban on AI use for constructing chemical structures. This debate was intensified by a significant legal resolution that compelled the AI firm Anthropic to compensate authors for the unauthorized use of their copyrighted material.
**Iupac’s Impactful Initiatives**
Iupac emerged prominently with projects aimed at redefining PFAS and molecular machines, focusing on establishing consistent definitions to support regulation and scientific conversation. However, these initiatives ignited debate regarding their potential effects on current policies and research approaches. Additionally, Iupac proposed principles promoting ethical and sustainable chemistry, striving to shape undergraduate education.
**Challenges in Global Research Funding**
Facing budget cuts from governments globally, research funders encountered a challenging year. Protests surged throughout Europe in response to decreases in research funding, with Serbian scientists particularly affected, facing restrictions on lab hours. In the UK, financial challenges lingered despite the government’s introduction of 10-year budgets to stabilize funding institutions. The discontinuation of the Fleming Fund further highlighted the precarious situation regarding funding for critical scientific programs.
**Consequences of UK Visa Regulations**
The UK’s strict visa policies raised concerns over their detrimental effect on the country’s capability to attract top-tier global scientific talent. Criticism emerged from within the House of Lords and various scientific sectors, asserting that these policies undermined national interests, with high visa costs exacerbating the issue and deterring potential researchers.
**Honoring MOF Innovators with the Nobel Prize**
In October, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was presented to Richard Robson, Susumu Kitagawa, and Omar Yaghi for their pioneering studies on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Their work significantly propelled understanding of highly porous materials with a range of applications, including carbon capture and hydrogen storage, highlighting their importance in tackling global issues.
**The Ongoing PFAS Dilemma**
The year brought ongoing revelations about PFAS, prevalent in common products and problematic ‘forever chemicals.’ In spite of public demand for stricter regulations and significant regulatory attempts—such as France’s partial prohibition—issues related to environmental contamination and health hazards remained unresolved. Reports detailing PFAS-related livestock fatalities and leaks from UK military facilities illustrated ongoing difficulties.
**Environmental Safeguards Amid Political Challenges**
Efforts to confront various chemical pollution issues faced considerable geopolitical obstacles. The UN’s new scientific panel on chemical pollution, similar to the IPCC for climate change, encountered disputes regarding its scope and functioning. Simultaneously, negotiations for a global treaty on plastic pollution stalled due to conflicting national priorities, while the EU’s continued exportation of banned pesticides attracted allegations of hypocrisy.
As 2025 drew to a close, the intersecting crises and advancements in the chemical sciences emphasized the dynamic and intricate nature of this essential field.