Palli Thordarson
@palliunsw.bsky.social
Professor and Director of the UNSW RNA Institute, School of Chemistry, UNSW.
We are very fortunate to have Dame Juliet Gerrard U. Aucklandhere at UNSW School of Chemistry to give a seminar about her journey through science, business and government. #ozchem
November 6, 2025 at 2:21 AM
We are very fortunate to have Dame Juliet Gerrard U. Aucklandhere at UNSW School of Chemistry to give a seminar about her journey through science, business and government. #ozchem
This is a fantastic day for Australian chemistry. First Australian chemistry Nobel prize since John Cornforth in 1975, but Richard Robson's work is at least as impactful. #ozchem
Fantastic to see one of my chemical heroes, Richard Robson, winning the Nobel Prize for coordination frameworks (MOFs), together with Kitagawa and Yaghi. #ozchem
October 8, 2025 at 10:12 AM
This is a fantastic day for Australian chemistry. First Australian chemistry Nobel prize since John Cornforth in 1975, but Richard Robson's work is at least as impactful. #ozchem
Beyond proud to be the 2025 recipient of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) Leighton Memorial Medal, in recognition of eminent service to chemistry in Australia. Big thanks to all my former and current students, staff amd collaborators for making this happen. #RACI #ozchem #chemistry
October 7, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Beyond proud to be the 2025 recipient of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) Leighton Memorial Medal, in recognition of eminent service to chemistry in Australia. Big thanks to all my former and current students, staff amd collaborators for making this happen. #RACI #ozchem #chemistry
Hahahaha! I still think of my favourite student survey feedback: "Great accent, sounds like a 1930's Chicago ganster" Maybe Sydney Uni should also look into the benefits of foreign accents;-) See www.news.com.au/lifestyle/pa...
www.news.com.au
August 27, 2025 at 3:57 AM
Hahahaha! I still think of my favourite student survey feedback: "Great accent, sounds like a 1930's Chicago ganster" Maybe Sydney Uni should also look into the benefits of foreign accents;-) See www.news.com.au/lifestyle/pa...
A nice round number on Google Scholar, so I couldn't resist snapping a screenshot.
August 9, 2025 at 1:25 AM
A nice round number on Google Scholar, so I couldn't resist snapping a screenshot.
I got a light teaching load so it impacts me less than others but boy, isn't demoralising to have only 3 of 64 students attending lectures. This is not sustainable as eventually people lose the will to teach this way. Can we not just admit the lecture is dead & buried and make some big changes.
July 24, 2025 at 12:33 AM
I got a light teaching load so it impacts me less than others but boy, isn't demoralising to have only 3 of 64 students attending lectures. This is not sustainable as eventually people lose the will to teach this way. Can we not just admit the lecture is dead & buried and make some big changes.
Saying goodbye to Carlos, our superstar visiting #supramolecular PhD student from U. Chile, Santiago who has been with us here at UNSW School of Chemistry, for the past 10 months doing some amazing work in #calixarene host-guest chemistry. We will miss you Carlos! #ozchem
June 5, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Saying goodbye to Carlos, our superstar visiting #supramolecular PhD student from U. Chile, Santiago who has been with us here at UNSW School of Chemistry, for the past 10 months doing some amazing work in #calixarene host-guest chemistry. We will miss you Carlos! #ozchem
Off to Les Diablerets in the Swiss Alps for the biannual Gordon Conference on Self-assembly and Supramolecular Chemistry! Looking forward to catching up with friends and making new + soaking in some great science in the alpine environment. And yes it includes RNA condensates etc ;-)
May 10, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Off to Les Diablerets in the Swiss Alps for the biannual Gordon Conference on Self-assembly and Supramolecular Chemistry! Looking forward to catching up with friends and making new + soaking in some great science in the alpine environment. And yes it includes RNA condensates etc ;-)
My 15y tells me there a lot of ads from Labor, LNP and yes, Clive's Trumpets on Insta. Big diff between the Labor & LNP content is that people just make fun of the latter for how out of touch they are while Labor, being also mostly lame, at least gets sometimes right with the cynical Insta crowd
April 26, 2025 at 11:25 AM
My 15y tells me there a lot of ads from Labor, LNP and yes, Clive's Trumpets on Insta. Big diff between the Labor & LNP content is that people just make fun of the latter for how out of touch they are while Labor, being also mostly lame, at least gets sometimes right with the cynical Insta crowd
My 15y son listens to Radiohead and my 13y daughter to Nirvana and got herself also a Green Day t-shirt (she had 2 Nirvana ones already). Several years of listening to my playlist in the car seem to have paid off;-) #GenX
April 21, 2025 at 11:36 PM
My 15y son listens to Radiohead and my 13y daughter to Nirvana and got herself also a Green Day t-shirt (she had 2 Nirvana ones already). Several years of listening to my playlist in the car seem to have paid off;-) #GenX
Marc Greenberg from John Hopkins giving a fantastic lecture here at @unswchemistry.bsky.social UNSW RNA Institute on oxidative damage in DNA-histone protein interactions. #ozchem #RNA #DNA
March 20, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Marc Greenberg from John Hopkins giving a fantastic lecture here at @unswchemistry.bsky.social UNSW RNA Institute on oxidative damage in DNA-histone protein interactions. #ozchem #RNA #DNA
Fantastic analysis of what is wrong with Australian politics: We wasted a $400b windfall, and now we’ll all have to pay www.afr.com/policy/econo...
We wasted a $400b windfall, and now we’ll all have to pay
An audit of federal finances finds Australia has never seen rivers of gold like this, but the hangover will be brutal.
www.afr.com
March 16, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Fantastic analysis of what is wrong with Australian politics: We wasted a $400b windfall, and now we’ll all have to pay www.afr.com/policy/econo...
Our faculty had a great discussion about these BIG proposed changes. My thoughts: 1) Fellowships are gone. 2) LIEF gone, the 30 "collaborate" grants may include some for large equipment. 4) Initiate = 2 years = too short. 5) No distinct fundamental research is risky. 6) Need international reviewers!
The ARC Board has proposed a major shake-up of the National Competitive Grants Program ▶️ www.arc.gov.au/engage-us/co...
I've only skimmed so far, but they propose reducing 13 grant schemes to 6, with intent & scope in the table👇
Submissions are being accepted in response until 13 April. Get to it!
I've only skimmed so far, but they propose reducing 13 grant schemes to 6, with intent & scope in the table👇
Submissions are being accepted in response until 13 April. Get to it!
March 14, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Our faculty had a great discussion about these BIG proposed changes. My thoughts: 1) Fellowships are gone. 2) LIEF gone, the 30 "collaborate" grants may include some for large equipment. 4) Initiate = 2 years = too short. 5) No distinct fundamental research is risky. 6) Need international reviewers!
First group lunch of the academic year for the Thordarson group with our newest member, Emma (Medchem Hons), "chairing" the Luncheon. #ozchem
February 26, 2025 at 5:05 AM
First group lunch of the academic year for the Thordarson group with our newest member, Emma (Medchem Hons), "chairing" the Luncheon. #ozchem
Chemistry #ozchem gets a shout out from our Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in a press conference after his call with Trump re steel & aluminium traffifs.
February 10, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Chemistry #ozchem gets a shout out from our Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in a press conference after his call with Trump re steel & aluminium traffifs.
Thank you David for this wonderful orbitury about a remarkable man and a great scientist; Sir Fraser Stoddart.
Free-to-view version now available here: rdcu.be/d8zyN
James Fraser Stoddart obituary: chemist and nanotechnology pioneer who built molecular machines | Nature
An early love of construction toys led the Scottish chemist to thread molecules together, opening up a new field of chemistry. An early love of construction toys led the Scottish chemist to thread molecules together, opening up a new field of chemistry.
rdcu.be
February 5, 2025 at 3:14 AM
Thank you David for this wonderful orbitury about a remarkable man and a great scientist; Sir Fraser Stoddart.
Stunning lecture from Eric Westhof here at @unswrna.bsky.social UNSW BABS on RNA structural biology & chemistry with focus on the ribosome & tRNA. Tautomers rule! And DNA is just a degraded RNA;-) #RNA #ozchem
January 29, 2025 at 5:29 AM
Stunning lecture from Eric Westhof here at @unswrna.bsky.social UNSW BABS on RNA structural biology & chemistry with focus on the ribosome & tRNA. Tautomers rule! And DNA is just a degraded RNA;-) #RNA #ozchem
Vale Sir Fraser Stoddart. @sirfrasersays You were a true friend, mentor and a history-making Scientist. I and everyone here at UNSW School of Chemistry @unswchemistry.bsky.social #ozchem will forever be in debt to you for agree to spend time with us and encourage us to reach for the stars. 1/5
December 31, 2024 at 9:40 AM
Vale Sir Fraser Stoddart. @sirfrasersays You were a true friend, mentor and a history-making Scientist. I and everyone here at UNSW School of Chemistry @unswchemistry.bsky.social #ozchem will forever be in debt to you for agree to spend time with us and encourage us to reach for the stars. 1/5
Reposted by Palli Thordarson
Sad to report that our esteemed colleague, Sir Fraser Stoddart, passed away yesterday in Melbourne, surrounded by family. His legacy is the 90+ academics he trained who continue to push the boundaries of human knowledge. Vale Fraser.
December 31, 2024 at 1:01 AM
Sad to report that our esteemed colleague, Sir Fraser Stoddart, passed away yesterday in Melbourne, surrounded by family. His legacy is the 90+ academics he trained who continue to push the boundaries of human knowledge. Vale Fraser.
Merry Christmas. Did some rheology experiments on the thickened cream to create Eton mess - a family tradition here in our household.
December 25, 2024 at 4:13 AM
Merry Christmas. Did some rheology experiments on the thickened cream to create Eton mess - a family tradition here in our household.
Very Christmassy right now in my old hometown Vopnafjörður, in NA-Iceland. Photo from my friend Jósep Jósepsson.
December 24, 2024 at 2:05 AM
Very Christmassy right now in my old hometown Vopnafjörður, in NA-Iceland. Photo from my friend Jósep Jósepsson.
The president, prime minister, bishop of the state church, chief of police, and the party leaders of all 3 parties in the new ruling coalition in Iceland are all women. However, equality has still to be achieved in the finance & business sectors according to locals.
December 22, 2024 at 10:56 PM
The president, prime minister, bishop of the state church, chief of police, and the party leaders of all 3 parties in the new ruling coalition in Iceland are all women. However, equality has still to be achieved in the finance & business sectors according to locals.