John Holman (chemist)

Sir John Stranger Holman is emeritus professor of chemistry at the University of York, a senior advisor in education at the Wellcome Trust and the Gatsby Foundation, founding director of the National Science Learning Centre,, Chair of the Teacher Development Trust and president of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

He was Headteacher of Watford Grammar School for Boys between 1994 and 2000, and was the British government's National STEM Director from 2006 to 2010 (STEM referring to the academic disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). He is on the council and a trustee of the Royal Society of Chemistry, and is a trustee of the Natural History Museum. He was made a Knight Bachelor in the 2010 New Year's honours. In 2014 the Royal Society of Chemistry awarded him the Lord Lewis Prize "in recognition of his extensive influence over chemistry education policy". He is Chair of the Salters' Institute board, was the founding director of Salters' Advanced Chemistry programme, and is the author of numerous chemistry textbooks.

He was named in 2014 by the Science Council as one of the UK's 100 leading practising scientists, and was the 2014 recipient of the Royal Society's biennial Kavli Education Medal, "in recognition of his significant impact on science education within the UK".