Child of Palestinian Refugees, Omar Yaghi, Wins 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
His family, displaced from Jaffa, lived in a crowded one-room home without reliable electricity or water. For Yaghi, his Nobel Prize is not only a personal milestone but also a symbol of resilience, perseverance, and the ability of science to transcend borders and hardship.
Omar Yaghi, a chemist born in Amman, Jordan, to Palestinian refugee parents, has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his pioneering work on metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), a breakthrough that has revolutionized approaches to clean water, air, and energy.
Yaghi shares the Nobel with Susumu Kitagawa of Japan and Richard Robson of Australia.
Together, their discoveries in the field of MOFs have created new possibilities for capturing carbon, purifying water, and developing sustainable energy solutions.
Born in 1965, Yaghi grew up in severe hardship.
His family, displaced from Jaffa, lived in a crowded one-room home without reliable electricity or water.
“We were a dozen of us in one room, sharing it with the cattle that we used to raise,” he recalled in remarks following the announcement. “My father finished sixth grade and my mother couldn’t read or write. It’s quite a journey. Science allows you to do it. Science is the greatest equalizing force in the world.”
Yaghi emphasized the importance of providing opportunities for talented young people across the globe.
“Smart people, talented people, skilled people exist everywhere. That’s why we really should focus on unleashing their potential through providing them with opportunity,” he said.
The recognition of Yaghi’s achievements has resonated deeply with many, particularly in the Arab and Muslim worlds, where his story is seen as both a source of pride and a reminder of the transformative power of science.
Commentators note that while his brilliance found its fullest expression within the American research system, his journey underscores the urgent need to create environments in the Middle East and beyond that nurture scientific talent at home.
For Yaghi, his Nobel Prize is not only a personal milestone but also a symbol of resilience, perseverance, and the ability of science to transcend borders and hardship.
More about the 2025 Chemistry Prize can be found on the Nobel Prize website.