Dr Omar Yaghi
Dr. Omar Yaghi is a chemist who does not simply study materials, he reimagines them. Awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his pioneering work in metal organic frameworks (MOFs), Yaghi has opened entirely new frontiers in materials science, transforming our ability to capture, store, and manipulate molecules with unprecedented precision. A professor at UC Berkeley, he has spent decades refining these intricate, highly porous structures, finding within them the potential to address some of humanity’s most urgent challenges, from water harvesting in arid climates to large scale carbon capture.
I photographed Yaghi on January 7, 2025, at Lattimer Hall at Berkeley. His office, long and narrow, was filled with delicate molecular models, three dimensional blueprints of his life’s work. The space itself felt like an extension of his mind, precise, methodical, and brimming with possibility. In our conversation, it became clear that for Yaghi, chemistry is not merely a field of study but a language, one in which he speaks fluently, exploring the fundamental structures of nature and reshaping them for human benefit.
As we wandered through his labs, we discussed the staggering potential of MOFs in decarbonization. Yaghi does not dwell in abstractions; he envisions molecular scale solutions operating at planetary scale. Could a network of MOF based facilities extract carbon from the atmosphere, reversing the relentless tide of emissions? He believes so. Could these same structures harvest water from dry air, providing clean drinking water in even the most arid environments? He has already demonstrated it.
Yaghi embodies the rare balance of theoretical brilliance and real world application. He moves fluidly between molecular models and global impact, driven by a conviction that chemistry is not only about understanding the natural world but about reshaping it for the better. With his characteristic enthusiasm and precision, he continues to push the limits of what is possible. His work does not sit in textbooks or laboratories alone, it is out in the world, altering the very fabric of our future.
Dr Omar Yaghi
Dr. Omar Yaghi is a chemist who does not simply study materials, he reimagines them. Awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his pioneering work in metal organic frameworks (MOFs), Yaghi has opened entirely new frontiers in materials science, transforming our ability to capture, store, and manipulate molecules with unprecedented precision. A professor at UC Berkeley, he has spent decades refining these intricate, highly porous structures, finding within them the potential to address some of humanity’s most urgent challenges, from water harvesting in arid climates to large scale carbon capture.
I photographed Yaghi on January 7, 2025, at Lattimer Hall at Berkeley. His office, long and narrow, was filled with delicate molecular models, three dimensional blueprints of his life’s work. The space itself felt like an extension of his mind, precise, methodical, and brimming with possibility. In our conversation, it became clear that for Yaghi, chemistry is not merely a field of study but a language, one in which he speaks fluently, exploring the fundamental structures of nature and reshaping them for human benefit.
As we wandered through his labs, we discussed the staggering potential of MOFs in decarbonization. Yaghi does not dwell in abstractions; he envisions molecular scale solutions operating at planetary scale. Could a network of MOF based facilities extract carbon from the atmosphere, reversing the relentless tide of emissions? He believes so. Could these same structures harvest water from dry air, providing clean drinking water in even the most arid environments? He has already demonstrated it.
Yaghi embodies the rare balance of theoretical brilliance and real world application. He moves fluidly between molecular models and global impact, driven by a conviction that chemistry is not only about understanding the natural world but about reshaping it for the better. With his characteristic enthusiasm and precision, he continues to push the limits of what is possible. His work does not sit in textbooks or laboratories alone, it is out in the world, altering the very fabric of our future.