​Professor Lesley Yellowlees

Lay Member of University Court

CBE, FRSE, HonFRSC

Lesley Yellowlees completed both her BSc in Chemical Physics and her PhD in Inorganic Electrochemistry at the University of Edinburgh. After completing research positions in Brisbane, Australia and Glasgow she returned to an academic position in Edinburgh in 1986 and gained a personal chair in Inorganic Electrochemistry in 2005.

Her current research interests are inorganic electrochemistry and spectroelectrochemistry, EPR spectroscopy, synthesis and characterisation of potential solar energy dyes, utilisation of CO2, public engagement of science and promoting women in science.

Lesley completed five years as Head of the School of Chemistry at Edinburgh and Director of EaStCHEM (the joint research school of the universities of Edinburgh and St Andrews) in 2010.

Lesley has worked with the Royal Society of Chemistry for many years, chairing their Science and Technology Board, sitting on the Publishing Board, working with the Scottish Education section and chairing the editorial Board of Chemistry World. She became their first woman President in July 2012.

She has recently retired from her role as Vice-Principal and Head of the College of Science and Engineering at the University of Edinburgh which she held from 2011.

She was awarded an MBE in 2005 for services to science and a CBE in 2014 for services to chemistry.  She was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2012 and an Honorary FRSC in 2016.  She has honorary degrees from Aberdeen, Bristol, Edinburgh Napier, Heriot-Watt, The Open and Strathclyde Universities.  Lesley is married to Peter and they have two children, Sarah and Mark.