Andrew R. Barron (chemist)

Andrew R. Barron (born 20 May 1962) is a British chemist, academic, and entrepreneur. He is the Sêr Cymru Chair of Low Carbon Energy and Environment at Swansea University, and the Charles W. Duncan Jr.-Welch Foundation Chair in Chemistry at Rice University. He is the founder and director of Energy Safety Research Institute (ESRI) at Swansea University, which consolidates the energy research at the University with a focus on environmental impact and future security. At Rice University, he leads a Research Group and has served as Associate Dean for Industry Interactions and Technology Transfer.

Barron’s current focus is on implementation of economically viable carbon capture, utilization, and storage technology including mineralization and biorefinery. He is a proponent of demonstrating new technologies through the concept of scaled pilots on industrial relevant locations, and in particular the concept of TRL jumping.

Most of Barron's work has revolved around the study of nanoparticles and their applications. Early on, he studied how the structure of a molecule could overcome thermodynamic control and create new solid state structures. Some of his early work also dealt with alumoxanes and ceramic nanomaterials. In the early 2000s, his research began to focus on carbon nanomaterials, the functionalization of fullerenes and single walled carbon nanotubes. Later, application of nanotechnology to energy problems became the focal point of his work. He has authored over 440 papers and 6 books, including a book co-authored with his wife, Merrie Barron, entitled Project Management for Scientists and Engineers.

Barron is the co-founder of multiple companies and he was a co-founder of the Rice Alliance.

Barron has received several awards for his research and work. He was named one of the Top 100 Influential People in 2025, and is the recipient of the Star of Asia International Award (2019), and the first Welch Foundation Norman Hackerman Award in Chemical Research (2002). In 2011 Barron was awarded the World Technology Award for Materials, which is award by World Technology Network. in association with TIME, Fortune, CNN, Science magazine and Technology Review across 20 categories for ‘innovative work of the greatest likely long-term significance’ to humanity. One of that years’ fellow WTA Award winners was Steve Jobs for the iPhone. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.