• Home
• About Us
• Funding
• Our Research
• Working with business

• Careers
• Publications
• Press
• Events

New Year Honours

6 January 2005

We are delighted to extend hearty congratulations to three NERC staff who have been chosen for awards in the Queen’s New Year Honours list.

NERC’s Chief Executive, Professor Sir John Lawton, CBE, FRS, has been awarded a Knighthood for his contribution to ecological science.

Sir John began his career by studying zoology at the University of Durham, completing his PhD in 1969. Since then he has held several university posts and has served on a wide range of committees and bodies. In 1989 he founded, and was appointed Director of, the NERC Centre for Population Biology at Imperial College, Silwood Park, where he remained until 1999. He took up his present post as Chief Executive of NERC in October 1999, but retains his Professorship in an honorary capacity at Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine.

His scientific interests are wide, but have focused on the population dynamics and biodiversity of birds and insects, with emphasis over the last decade on the impacts of global environmental change on wild plants and animals. He has published over 320 scientific papers, and written or edited five books.

Sir John says, "I’m completely taken aback, but also delighted to be honoured in this way."

Dr John Dudeney, OBE, Deputy Director of the British Antarctic Survey.

Dr Dudeney has been awarded an OBE for his services to science. He joined the British Antarctic Survey as a graduate in 1966. He spent two consecutive winters at the Antarctic Peninsula as an ionospheric physicist and as Faraday Base Commander in 1968. He headed the British Antarctic Survey’s Upper Atmospheric Services Division from 1990 until 1998 when he became Deputy Director of BAS.

During his career, Dr Dudeney has served or been involved with a number of International committees and bodies. He has made around 20 trips to Antarctica and his professional involvement in Antarctic matters spans almost 40 years.

He says, "I am pleased and honoured to receive the OBE. It’s good to know that your efforts have been recognised, but most heart-warming of all is the volume of sentiments I’ve received from colleagues I’ve worked with over the years."

Dr Stuart Dobson, OBE, Ecotoxicologist and physiologist, Safety Adviser to NERC.

Dr Dobson has been awarded an OBE for his services to ecotoxicology. He joined NERC’s Centre for Ecology and Hydrology in 1975 after gaining his PhD in Ecophysiology from the University of Wales, Bangor.

At the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology he has worked extensively on the International Programme on Chemical Safety led by the World Health Organisation, which examines the effects of chemicals on both human health and wildlife. He is currently a member of the UK National Advisory Committees on Hazardous Substances and the Chemicals Stakeholder Forum. He has written around 30 books about chemical safety.

Dr Dobson says, "Honours are something other people get so I hadn’t expected to receive one myself. Needless to say, I’m very pleased."

Congratulations also to Mrs Pamela Castle, OBE, a former Member of NERC’s Council and to Professor Don Ritchie, CBE, also a former Member of Council and current Chair of NERC’s Marine and Freshwater Microbial Biodiversity programme.

Further information

NERC Press Office
Natural Environment Research Council
Polaris House, North Star Avenue
Swindon, SN2 1EU
Tel: 01793 411561
Mob: 07917 557215

Press release: 03/05