The 250th anniversary of the birth of Smithson Tennant, discover of iridium and osmium, was marked at the University of York, UK, recently at a scientific symposium that covered modern day research on the two platinum group metals.

Talks at the event covered Smithson Tennant’s life and works which, in addition to the discovery of iridium and osmium, included studies on diamonds, meteorites and work which led to the invention of the Davy Safety Lamp.

A range of presentations to an audience of over 100 researchers and specialists covered contemporary research on iridium in electroluminescent devices such as organic light-emitting diodes, the design of osmium arene anticancer complexes and research on the use of iridium in magnetic resonance imaging.

To mark the 250th anniversary, a brewery in the town of Selby - the place of Smithson Tennant’s birth - produced a special edition beer named ‘Smithson’s Ale’.

The event was sponsored by Johnson Matthey Catalysts, BP, the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the University of York. A new ‘Virtual Issue’ of past papers on iridium and osmium was published in conjunction with the event by Platinum Metals Review, the quarterly journal of research on the science and technology of the platinum group metals. The Virtual Issue, entitled Smithson Tennant: Iridium and Osmium was given to delegates at the event and is available to download free of charge at:

http://www.platinummetalsreview.com/virtual-issues-2/#VI3

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