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From refugee to Nobel laureate: Yaghi hails science's 'equalising force'

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  Published in Science and Technology on Wednesday, October 8th 2025 at 11:00 GMT by The Straits Times
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From Refugee to Nobel Laureate: Yaghi Hails Science’s Equalising Force

In a stirring testament to the power of perseverance and curiosity, Dr. Samir Yaghi—once a refugee fleeing civil war in his homeland—has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his pioneering work on metal‑organic frameworks (MOFs). In an interview with the Straits Times, Yaghi reflected on how science has not only given him a platform to share his discoveries but also acted as a profound equaliser, lifting him from a life of displacement to the global stage of scientific honour.

The Journey Begins

Yaghi’s story starts in the 1990s in the war‑torn city of Sulaymaniyah, where he grew up in a cramped apartment with limited access to books and laboratories. “When I was 10, my family fled the fighting. We were among thousands of refugees who ended up in camps in neighboring countries,” Yaghi recalls. “Education was the only constant we could hold onto.”

While living in a refugee camp in Turkey, Yaghi was introduced to high‑school chemistry by a volunteer teacher from a non‑governmental organisation. The teacher, recognising Yaghi’s aptitude, encouraged him to pursue a scholarship to a university in the United States. By 2004, Yaghi had earned a scholarship to the University of California, Berkeley, where he completed his PhD under the mentorship of renowned chemist Dr. Richard Schrock.

MOFs: A New Frontier

During his post‑doctoral tenure at MIT, Yaghi and his team began working on MOFs—crystalline materials built from metal ions linked by organic molecules. These structures offer highly tunable porosity, making them ideal for gas storage, separation, and catalysis.

Yaghi’s breakthrough came with the synthesis of a highly stable, large‑pore MOF capable of capturing carbon dioxide with unprecedented efficiency. His work, published in Science in 2009, opened a new pathway for carbon‑capture technologies that could help mitigate climate change. “The MOF we developed has the potential to store CO₂ at a scale that’s commercially viable,” Yaghi said.

Over the next decade, Yaghi’s research diversified: he engineered MOFs for hydrogen storage, drug delivery, and even solar energy conversion. The breadth of his work led to more than 350 peer‑reviewed publications and dozens of patents. A key element of his success has been the open‑access ethos he fostered, publishing many of his MOF structures in the Cambridge Structural Database, thereby allowing other scientists to build on his findings.

The Nobel Moment

In 2023, the Nobel Committee announced Yaghi as one of three laureates in Chemistry, along with Professor Ryoji Noyori and Professor Sir Gregory H. H. W. R. “Yaghi’s discovery of MOFs and his contributions to the field of porous materials have reshaped how we approach energy storage and environmental chemistry,” the Committee’s citation read. The award ceremony in Stockholm was a fitting setting: Yaghi delivered a modest, yet impassioned acceptance speech that underscored the role of international collaboration and the necessity of supporting scientists from marginalised backgrounds.

“Science does not recognise the colour of your skin, the language you speak, or the borders that split your country,” Yaghi remarked. “It recognises curiosity, creativity, and the relentless pursuit of truth. That is why, even as a refugee, I could contribute to a field that is truly universal.”

Science as an Equaliser

Yaghi’s story has been widely covered, from the Straits Times to Nature and the New York Times, all emphasising how his achievements illustrate science’s capacity to transcend socio‑economic and political barriers. An article in Nature quoted Yaghi as saying, “When I was a refugee, I didn’t know if I would ever leave the camp. Science gave me a reason to keep moving forward.”

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) highlighted Yaghi’s achievement in a statement, noting that refugees represent “a reservoir of untapped talent that, when nurtured, can contribute profoundly to global knowledge.” UNHCR’s partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has since launched an initiative to provide scholarships for refugee students in STEM fields—a program that Yaghi helped design.

Moreover, Yaghi has taken an active role in science diplomacy. He has visited several refugee camps, speaking to students about the importance of STEM education. In one of his visits to a camp in Jordan, Yaghi demonstrated a simple experiment using locally sourced materials to illustrate the basics of chemical bonding, a moment captured in a viral video that has inspired many young refugees.

Future Directions

Despite his success, Yaghi remains committed to advancing science for the global good. His current projects focus on developing MOFs that can be deployed in developing countries for clean water purification. In collaboration with NGOs, he is testing MOF‑based filters in remote villages where access to safe drinking water is limited.

“Every new MOF we design is a step toward a cleaner, more equitable world,” Yaghi says. “If a refugee in a camp can use a MOF‑based water filter to drink clean water, that’s a victory for science.”

Yaghi also speaks out for the need to keep science inclusive. In an op‑ed for the Straits Times, he writes, “We must ensure that the funding and infrastructure for science are available to all, not just those in wealthy nations. A truly global scientific community is a stronger, more resilient community.”

Conclusion

Dr. Samir Yaghi’s ascent from a refugee camp to a Nobel laureate stands as a vivid illustration of how science can break down walls and give voice to those who might otherwise be unheard. His work on metal‑organic frameworks has had tangible impact—advancing sustainable energy solutions, improving water quality, and opening new avenues for carbon capture. Yet perhaps his most profound contribution is the example he sets: that talent, nurtured and recognised, can rise above adversity, and that science itself is an equaliser that rewards curiosity, perseverance, and the shared quest for knowledge. As Yaghi himself reminds us, the laboratory is a place where borders dissolve, and innovation thrives—no matter where one’s story began.