Emmanuelle Charpentier
2020 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry | Co-Inventor of CRISPR-Cas9 | Director, Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens | Co-Founder, CRISPR Therapeutics
Henri B. Kagan
2026 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry | Pioneer of Asymmetric Synthesis & Discoverer of Non-Linear Effects in Catalysis | Professor Emeritus, Université Paris-Sud
Henri B. Kagan is the 2026 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, honored with Kenso Soai for discoveries that solved a century-old mystery: how nature favors just one of two mirror-image molecules. A professor emeritus at Université Paris-Sud and a pioneer of asymmetric synthesis, his discovery of non-linear effects transformed how chemists build single-handed molecules, work that underpins modern medicines, flavors, and materials.
Want to book Henri B. Kagan as a speaker for your event? Please provide the info below and we’ll get in touch within 24h:
Henri B. Kagan biography
Science speaker Henri B. Kagan is the 2026 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry and one of the founding figures of modern asymmetric synthesis, the chemistry of building molecules with a specific “handedness.” Awarded the prize jointly with Kenso Soai, he was honored for solving a mystery that had puzzled chemists for more than a century: how nature, and now the laboratory, can come to favor just one of two mirror-image forms of a molecule, a property known as homochirality that is fundamental to life itself.
Many molecules, including the amino acids that make up living things, exist as two versions that are mirror images of each other, like a left and a right hand. Yet life uses only one. For chemists, reliably producing a single mirror image rather than an even mixture is both a profound puzzle and an enormously practical goal, because in medicines, only one version typically has the desired effect. Kagan’s breakthrough came in the 1980s, when he discovered and explained “non-linear effects” in asymmetric catalysis, showing that a less-than-perfect catalyst could still yield a large excess of one mirror image, far more than anyone had thought possible.
Solving a Century-Old Mystery
Kagan’s work, together with the asymmetric autocatalysis later discovered by his co-laureate Kenso Soai, has shaped how chemists think about the origins of homochirality and how they design reactions in practice. A professor emeritus at Université Paris-Sud in Orsay, he is recognized for a body of work spanning chiral catalysts and the use of lanthanides in synthesis, and his discoveries are now essential to the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, flavors, fragrances, and advanced materials. Before the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, his decades of contributions were honored with the Wolf Prize in Chemistry and membership in the French Academy of Sciences.
As a speaker, Henri B. Kagan offers audiences a direct connection to one of the great scientific achievements of our age. His career is a powerful reminder that patient, curiosity-driven research can reshape entire industries and even illuminate the origins of life, from a laboratory discovery about molecular “handedness” to the medicines, flavors, and materials it makes possible. His story resonates far beyond chemistry, with anyone who values science, discovery, and the pursuit of understanding.
Henri B. Kagan Speaking Videos
Announcement of the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
This Year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry Just Solved a 100 Year Old Mystery
Henri B. Kagan Keynote Topics
Why does life, from the amino acids in your cells to the medicines in your cabinet, use molecules of only one "handedness," when chemistry can make both? In this fascinating talk, Nobel Laureate Henri B. Kagan explores homochirality, one of the deepest and most beautiful puzzles in science, and the work that helped solve it. He connects a century-old question about the origins of life to discoveries now used in laboratories worldwide, making profound chemistry accessible and wondrous for any curious audience.
Behind countless modern medicines lies a quiet revolution in chemistry: the ability to build a molecule in just one of its two mirror-image forms, the form that actually heals. Henri B. Kagan, whose discoveries made this possible, explains how asymmetric synthesis works and why it matters so profoundly for pharmaceuticals, flavors, fragrances, and materials. A rare window into the science that shapes everyday life, told by one of the field's founders.
Henri B. Kagan's Nobel Prize recognized ideas first developed decades ago, a testament to the long, patient arc of fundamental research. In this reflective talk, he shares the story of a life spent at the frontier of chemistry: the curiosity that drove him, the breakthroughs and setbacks along the way, and what his journey reveals about how real discovery happens. An inspiring perspective on science, perseverance, and the value of asking deep questions.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Henri B. Kagan
Why Henri B. Kagan?
Henri B. Kagan is a 2026 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry and a founding figure of modern asymmetric synthesis, a chemist whose discoveries quietly underpin the manufacture of medicines, flavors, and materials used around the world. Hosting him connects an audience to one of the great scientific achievements of our era and to a century-old mystery, how nature chooses between mirror-image molecules, that his work helped solve. His story carries themes that resonate far beyond the laboratory: curiosity, perseverance, and the extraordinary real-world impact of fundamental research. He is a distinguished choice for events celebrating science, innovation, education, and discovery. To enquire about Henri B. Kagan, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
Who is Henri B. Kagan?
Henri B. Kagan is a French chemist, professor emeritus at Université Paris-Sud in Orsay, and the 2026 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry. Born in France in 1930, he is regarded as one of the pioneers of asymmetric synthesis, the branch of chemistry concerned with producing molecules of a specific "handedness." He is especially known for discovering and explaining "non-linear effects" in asymmetric catalysis in the 1980s, as well as for his work on chiral catalysts and the use of lanthanides in organic synthesis. He was awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry jointly with Kenso Soai of the Tokyo University of Science, "for the discovery of non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis." His earlier honors include the Wolf Prize in Chemistry and membership in the French Academy of Sciences.
What did Henri Kagan win the Nobel Prize for?
Henri Kagan shared the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Kenso Soai "for the discovery of non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis." Their complementary breakthroughs solved a mystery more than a century old: how "homochirality," nature's use of just one of two possible mirror-image molecules, can arise. Many molecules exist as two forms that are mirror images of each other, like left and right hands, but living organisms use only one, and chemists long struggled to produce a single form rather than an equal mixture. Kagan's contribution, beginning in the 1980s, was the discovery of non-linear effects: he showed that even an imperfect catalyst could generate a large excess of one mirror image, far more than previously thought possible. His co-laureate Kenso Soai later developed asymmetric autocatalysis, a reaction that amplifies a tiny imbalance until only one mirror image remains. Together their work explains how chemical "handedness" can emerge and has become essential to making modern pharmaceuticals, where typically only one mirror image has the desired effect.
What topics does Henri B. Kagan speak on?
Henri B. Kagan's work speaks to the mystery of molecular "handedness" and the origins of life, asymmetric synthesis and its role in modern medicine, and the long, curiosity-driven arc of fundamental scientific discovery. His profile suits events celebrating science, chemistry, innovation, education, and the Nobel legacy, for academic, scientific, and general audiences. To enquire about Henri B. Kagan, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
How to book Henri B. Kagan as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Henri B. Kagan as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Henri B. Kagan's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Henri B. Kagan or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Henri B. Kagan speaking fee?
Henri B. Kagan speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Henri B. Kagan to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Henri B. Kagan.
How can I contact Henri B. Kagan?
We only work with Henri B. Kagan on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Henri B. Kagan and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Henri B. Kagan speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Henri B. Kagan for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Henri B. Kagan for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Henri B. Kagan is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Henri B. Kagan for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
