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Professor of Cosmology and Astrophysics and President of the Royal Society, Lord Rees of Ludlow (Professor Martin Rees), has been appointed by ̽��ֱ��Queen to the Order of Merit. ̽��ֱ��Order, founded in 1902 by King Edward VII, is a special mark of honour conferred by the Sovereign on individuals of exceptional distinction in the arts, learning, sciences and other areas.

Lord Rees said: "This is a great honour for me. I am delighted to be joining such a distinguished group of individuals. It is recognition of the contribution of science to both the history and the future of the UK."

̽��ֱ��Queen has honoured four Cambridge academics in the 2007 Birthday Honours list announced at the weekend.

Professor Christopher Bayly, a leading scholar in Indian history at the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge, will be made a Knight Bachelor. Professor Bayly is Vere Harmsworth Professor of Imperial and Naval History, Fellow of St Catharine's College and Director of the Centre of South Asian Studies at the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge.

Professor Bayly's extensive studies in modern India and personal interest in Indian history have been a key factor in strengthening the historic relationship between the ̽��ֱ�� and India. Past publications by Professor Bayly have included Imperial Meridian, ̽��ֱ��British Empire and the World 1780-1830 (1989); Empire and Information. Intelligence gathering and social communication in India 1780-1870 (1996), Forgotten Armies (2004) and most recently Forgotten Wars (2007) with Dr Tim Harper (Magdalene College), two studies of the Second World War and its aftermath in Asia, concentrating on the experiences of Asian people.

Professor Bayly said: "I regard this not only as a great personal honour but, as an historian of India, as recognition of the growing importance of the history of the non-western world."

Professor Azim Surani, Marshall-Walton Professor of Physiology and Reproduction, will receive a CBE for ‘services to Biology'.

Professor Surani obtained his PhD in Mammalian Development at the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge in 1975 under Professor R G Edwards, the pioneer of test tube babies. He established his independent laboratory at the Babraham Institute in 1979 as a Senior Principal Investigator. In 1991, he returned to the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge as the Marshall-Walton Professor at the Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute of Cancer and Developmental Biology. His past work includes the discovery of the phenomenon of Genomic Imprinting in mice. His recent work has focussed on the specification and properties of the mouse germ cell lineage, including epigenetic reprogramming of the genome. His studies contributed to the advancement of cancer research, stem cells and regenerative medicine.

Professor Surani said: “I am absolutely stunned and delighted to receive such an honour. I consider it as a very special tribute for my colleagues and students who have contributed to many exciting times and discoveries in our research on the germ line and stem cells. Cambridge provides a unique environment and support for innovative research, which has been generously sponsored by the Wellcome Trust and the BBSRC. I have had an extremely rewarding experience, and I consider myself fortunate and privileged to work at one of the best Institutes in the world.”

Professor Jim Smith, Director of the Gurdon Institute, said: “I am delighted that Azim Surani's work has been recognised in this way. From his discovery of genomic imprinting in mice to his more recent work on germ cell specification and genetic reprogramming, Azim has made a series of pioneering and fundamental discoveries that have helped keep the UK at the forefront of biomedical science, particularly in the important area of stem cells. I am sure that this honour recognises not only the relevance of Azim's studies to the health of the nation, but also the extraordinarily high quality of his work over a sustained period.”

Dr Pamela Ewan, Associate Lecturer at the Department of Medicine and head of the Allergy Department at Addenbrooke's Hospital, will receive a CBE for ‘services to Healthcare'.

Dr Ewan has played a major role in the development of allergy as a specialty and influenced public policy on the development of allergy services. She led a national campaign to highlight the need to improve NHS allergy services. She is past President of the British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology, and co-founder and co-chair of the National Allergy Strategy Group. She co-produced the Royal College of Physicians Report ‘Allergy: the unmet need' and was advisor to the House of Commons Health Committee inquiry into Allergy Services and to the DH Allergy inquiry. Her main interest is clinical allergy and her clinical research has influenced clinical practice and public awareness through work on peanut allergy.

Dr Pamela Ewan said: “I am honored and delighted to receive this award and particularly because this highlights the enormous need for allergy services for patients.”

Myles Burnyeat, Honorary Fellow of Robinson College, will receive a CBE for ‘services to Scholarship'.

Myles Burnyeat became an Assistant Lecturer in Philosophy at UCL in 1964, and a Lecturer in 1965. In 1978 he was appointed a Lecturer in Classics at the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge, and became a fellow of Robinson College, Cambridge. From 1984 to 1996 he was the Laurence Professor of Ancient Philosophy at Cambridge. From 1996 to 2006 he was Senior Research Fellow in Philosophy at All Souls College, Oxford. He was president of the Aristotelian Society from 2005 to 2006. In 2006 he returned to Robinson College.

Vice-Chancellor Alison Richard said: "It is wonderful that Cambridge is able to celebrate the award of honours to five of our colleagues, testifying to distinguished academic accomplishments and leadership across all the fields of inquiry."