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  • when I first got my doctor, it's on was called Dr Polyakov.

  • The only reason that I found the doctrine useful was to complain in shops.

  • If you telephoned and said it looked you that this is not right.

  • If you said it was Dr Polyakov, it produced an effect.

  • Now I have no idea whether sir will produce an effect similar effect or whether people will just love.

  • Each year, the U.

  • K government releases something called the New Years on this list.

  • This is a whole bunch of people receiving things like NBC's and Seabees and Obi Ease, but of particular interest, other people who are receiving knighthoods and dame hoods.

  • Now these could be all sorts of people that could be sports stars or celebrities.

  • Or very often they might be people you've never heard off have accomplished things or done many years of service behind the sames.

  • But this year, one of the people being recognized with a knighthood is our very own professor, Martin Polyakov.

  • Now, of course, first and foremost, he's been recognized for his work over many years as a chemist at the University of Nottingham.

  • He's also been recognized for his work as an ambassador for science in recent years as foreign secretary of the royal society.

  • But of particular interest to May.

  • And perhaps you who watches these videos is another thing.

  • And it's written on this citation here that Martin has been recognized for his work in engaging the public with chemistry, including through the periodic table of videos on YouTube.

  • Here it is in black and white.

  • So anyway, I had a quick shot with Well, I guess I should call him Sir Martin just a few days ago and asked him how he felt about the whole thing.

  • I already have a lower on the so called commander of the order of the British Empire, which has a nice cross of which I have worn, I think in total, three or four times on.

  • Once when I had to go down the street wearing this, I buttoned at my an erect right to the top so that nobody should see this when I was going down the street.

  • The knighthood, as far as I remember, I've seen quite a lot of people wearing.

  • This is a sort of oval, reddish colored medallion in the university.

  • It is quite rare.

  • Sir Peter Mansfield, the Nobel Prize winner, discoverer or inventor of M.

  • R.

  • I are former Vice Chancellor Colin Campbell was knighted, and I present Vice Chancellor, said David Greene.

  • Away was knighted.

  • Actually, only a few months ago, of course, has got it for I've been awarded it because this is somebody who the top scientists in a top school.

  • Something has been a fabulous communicate has done so much through pure table of videos.

  • Toe raise interest in the science.

  • But she's also part of the university community that he's grown up in his beanie of 35 years on part of the university community.

  • Very proud of what he's done.

  • So this is a huge honor for the university as well as for Martin personally on the actual ceremony, which I've never seen.

  • But I've heard about is that you are touched on the shoulder by the queen or a member of the royal family with the sword, just like you see in pictures in medieval battlefields and so on, though I think the sword they use is rather lighter and less sharp.

  • Yes, indeed, there was a sword.

  • It's not a myth.

  • I was tapped on both shoulders.

  • Three Only thing that was missing was arise, Sir David, that that bit doesn't actually happen.

  • Arise, sir Percival Rise.

  • A sirloin of beef right beforehand.

  • The taking for briefing on a stool there and to take you through, kneeling down and so on.

  • And to be honest, I thought, Well, what's the point of that?

  • But it did it.

  • Andan official came up to me and said, uh, so David one.

  • When you went down, you instinctively put your head down.

  • Do not do that.

  • Keep your head up.

  • Otherwise you don't see what's happening, and you'll miss the moment.

  • And it was wonderful advice.

  • I kept my head up.

  • That was lovely eye contact.

  • There you can see the sort of coming down that taps both shoulders.

  • And then then majesty had a few words asked about my career.

  • Is an economist last about work here at university?

  • People in the UK is still really quite formal.

  • So if you're a professor, you're called Professor with your surname.

  • So I'm called Professor Polyakov.

  • I prefer people to use my first name and call me Martin.

  • So the tradition is that when somebody gets a knighthood they are called sir in their Christian names.

  • So in my case, so Martin, they're in full.

  • I would be Professor Sir Martin Polyakov, but nobody in their right mind would actually say that they might write it in the formal document.

  • It is, I think, for a combination of reasons.

  • I think it is partly through my role at the Royal Society as an ambassador of UK science.

  • But also it is it for my role in chemistry partly my research in green and sustainable chemistry, but also for my efforts, thanks to you, the YouTube watchers, to promote chemistry through YouTube.

  • I think it may be the first time that YouTube has been mentioned when something's got a knighthood, and so I feel really quite proud about that.

  • And they also really want to thank you YouTube viewers who have made this possible through your enthusiasm for chemistry.

  • So in a way, this is an honor that we can all share together.

  • I see this very much as an honor for the whole of the school of chemistry at the University of Nottingham, where I work.

  • So I see this as a reward, not only for myself, but for my colleagues working this area, and particularly for my research team.

  • Andi, my close colleagues who work with me in this team and also for our technical staff who Maykel the equipment that allows us to do the experiments.

  • I think my wife is fairly neutral about it there.

  • It should be pointed out that there is rather unfortunate sex discrimination that when a male is knighted, his wife gets the courtesy title of lady.

  • But if a woman is made the dame, her husband's doesn't get anything.

  • I'm not sure what my wife's attitude to bank a lady will be.

  • And it that's up to her, whether she uses the take a little note.

  • Fantastic public recognition.

  • Andi.

  • Um, no, they're on.

  • There aren't many offthe, um, Andi think the university having the opportunity to celebrate an accolade like this for someone who's is loyal and is committed?

  • Onda, straightforward as Martin is just a wonderful thing.

  • I think perhaps what I need to remember is that when I was made to professor in 1990 24 years ago, my son sent me a birthday card.

  • It was announced fortuitously on my birthday, and it said that the end.

  • P s Don't be pompous like other proofs.

  • And I think this is really a very good attitude.

  • Tohave toe all these owners.

  • I'm delighted to have it, but I mustn't let it get the better of me.

when I first got my doctor, it's on was called Dr Polyakov.

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