Recently appointed Trinity College master Dame Sally Davies, DBE, FRS. FMedSci, (pictured), received the honour of Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) for services to Public Health and Research in the 2020 New Year Honours List.
Shell Professor of Chemical Engineering in the University's Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Professor Lynn Gladden, CBE, FRS. FREng, was made a dame, and Distinguished Research Fellow Professor Anthony Cheetham FRS. and Clare Hall Fellow Dr Mene Pangalos were both knighted.
Before arriving at Trinity College in October, Dame Sally was Chief Medical Officer for England and Chief Medical Advisor to the UK Government. She led the UK Government’s international campaign on antimicrobial resistance and advised it in health emergencies, including Ebola in West Africa 2013-15, Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2018, Zika, Wave 3 of the flu pandemic in 2010, and the Novichok attack in 2018.
She said: "I am honoured to receive this GCB recognising the efforts of many people across Government, the NHS and beyond, working together on issues ranging through health research and public health to fighting the rise of antimicrobial resistance both in the UK and across the world. We will continue to build coalitions for action as this war to save lives is not over."
Professor Gladden, who is Executive Chair of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to Academic and Industrial Research in Chemical Engineering.
Dame Lynn, who is also a Fellow of Trinity College, is internationally recognised for her work on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods, taking techniques well-established in the medical world and modifying them so that they can be applied to advancing the scientific understanding of fluid flows and chemical reaction.
The overall motivation for much of this work is to increase the energy-efficiency of chemical processes and produce products with better ‘in-use’ properties. Such products range from controlled-release pharmaceutical materials to optimised materials (known as catalysts) to perform catalytic conversions to produce ‘clean’ fuels.
She said: “This is a great surprise and honour. It also provides a great opportunity to thank senior colleagues in my research group, and all the students and post-doctoral workers who have worked with me over the past 30 years. I must also thank the University of Cambridge, Trinity College and, in particular, my first ‘boss’ Professor John Davidson, who have been so supportive over the years.”
Professor Cheetham, of the University's Department of Materials Science, was awarded a Knights Bachelor for services to Material Chemistry, UK Science and Global Outreach.
Dr Pangalos, who is AstraZeneca's Executive Vice President of BioPharmaceuticals Research and Development, was awarded a Knights Bachelor for services to UK Science.
He said: “I am truly humbled and immensely honoured to receive this award and feel incredibly fortunate to have worked alongside so many talented colleagues and collaborators through my career. The UK is one of the best places in the world to do applied research, and life sciences clusters such as the one in Cambridge drive the convergence of scientific innovation and talent, enabling us to better turn science into life-changing medicines.”
Professor Andy Neely, FREng, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Enterprise and Business Relations at the University, and former Head of the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM), received an OBE for services to Research and to University/Industry Collaboration.
Professor Neely, who is a Fellow of Sidney Sussex College, Director of the Centre for Digital Built Britain and Founding Director of the Cambridge Service Alliance, is widely recognised for his work on the servitization of manufacturing - which involves firms (often manufacturing firms) developing the capabilities they need to provide services and solutions - as well as his work on performance measurement and management. He is Vice-Chair of the Cambridge and Peterborough Business Board and a non-executive Director of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult. In his role as Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Enterprise and Business Relations he works closely with the business community to encourage collaboration and innovation.
He said: “The mission of Cambridge University is to contribute to society. We do that at scale by working in partnership with others and I have been incredibly fortunate across my career to work with a wide range of talented people from universities and business. While awards single out individuals, individuals usually rely on teams and I have been lucky enough to work with some of the best teams. So while I am flattered to have been honoured, I’d really like to say thank you to all those who I have worked with for all they have done."
Reproduced courtesy of the University of Cambridge