A GENEROUS businessman has donated over £1million to help science students prosper at the University of York.

Dr Anthony Wild, a leading businessman and philanthropist, has been a long-time supporter of chemistry at York.

He has also pledged a further £1.37million against funds raised by the Department of Chemistry and the University over the next five years.

The gift will support world-leading research and infrastructure projects across atmospheric chemistry and chemical and structural biology.

His donation will also help to support future generations of students through the creation of a new teaching facility.

Professor Koen Lamberts, the university’s vice chancellor and president, said: “The support from Dr Wild really does transform what we do here at the University of York.

“It helps us to raise our aspirations and unlock other sources of funding for our research and teaching.

“The Department of Chemistry’s success in both teaching and research has been enhanced significantly through Dr Wild’s support.”

Dr Wild has enabled more than 67 international postgraduate students to study chemistry at York through the Wild Scholarship programme.

He was instrumental in establishing the international recognised Wolfson Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratories, and in 2015 encouraged more than 120 alumni and friends of the Department of Chemistry to support the Department’s 50th anniversary in aid of undergraduate internships and postdoctoral fellowships.

Dr Wild’s support over the past eight years has helped leverage a staggering £30 million in external funding for the University in priority areas.

Student Madeline Hartley received funding through the Wild Scholarships programme.

She said: “This award allowed me to study at York without having to worry as much about finances.

“It was also a huge confidence boost – proving to me that someone believed I was good enough and that has been really important.”