Peter Atkins

Peter Atkins is a distinguished chemist and Fellow of Lincoln College at the University of Oxford. He is the author of some of the most widely used chemistry textbooks in the world, including Atkins’ Physical Chemistry and The Elements of Physical Chemistry. A prolific science communicator, Atkins has dedicated his career to making chemistry accessible and demonstrating the power of scientific reasoning. At The Future of Science, he addressed the fundamental role of chemistry in understanding nature.

Beyond his textbooks, Atkins has authored popular science books including Galileo’s Finger and Four Laws That Drive the Universe, making the principles of thermodynamics and quantum chemistry accessible to general audiences. His writing style, combining precision with elegance, has influenced how chemistry is taught at university level worldwide. Atkins is also known for his arguments that science provides a complete framework for understanding reality, engaging in public debates with theologians and philosophers about the limits of scientific knowledge.