Japanese chemist at Kyoto University. He won the 2025 Nobel chemistry prize, alongside Richard Robson and Omar Yaghi, for his work on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs).
Dr Kitagawa helped persuade the chemistry community of the promise of MOFs. He demonstrated that, unlike rigid zeolites (naturally occurring minerals with similar gap-filled structures), MOFs could be made flexible. His work helped convince the field that MOFs had big advantages over their naturally occurring rivals.
We all live in a state of ambitious poverty.