Cambridge academics honoured over the New Year

pbh25 — Mon, 04 Jan 2016 15:42:44 +0000

Professor Dame Ann Dowling has been appointed to the Order of Merit by HM ̽��ֱ��Queen.

̽��ֱ��Order of Merit is given to those who have rendered exceptionally meritorious services towards the advancement of the arts, learning, literature and science. ̽��ֱ��award is in the personal gift of ̽��ֱ��Queen, and is limited to 24 recipients.

President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Dowling’s research is primarily in the fields of combustion, acoustics and vibration, aimed at low-emission combustion and quiet vehicles. ̽��ֱ��Professor of Mechanical Engineering is one of the founders of the Energy Efficient Cities initiative in Cambridge and was the UK lead of the Silent Aircraft Initiative.

She was appointed CBE for services to Mechanical Engineering in 2002, and promoted DBE for services to Science in 2007.

Dowling, a Fellow of Sidney Sussex College, said: “I was surprised, delighted and very, very honoured to be appointed to the Order of Merit.”

Members of the ̽��ֱ�� were also recognised in the New Year’s honours list. Professor David MacKay, the Regius Professor of Engineering since 2013, has been knighted ‘for services to scientific advice in Government and science outreach.’

Mackay, a Fellow of Darwin College, said: “I am absolutely delighted to receive this honour. I'd like to thank all those from across the political spectrum who supported my work advocating a numerate, engineering-based approach to energy policy and climate-change action, and the civil servants who taught me how to deliver scientific advice in Whitehall; I'd also like to express my gratitude to the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge for their support for me throughout my career.”

Harvey McGrath, co-chair of the £2 billion fundraising campaign for the ̽��ֱ�� and Colleges of Cambridge, was also knighted in the New Year’s honours list ‘for services to economic growth and public life’. McGrath, an Honorary Fellow of St Catharine’s College, is a philanthropist and businessman.

Professor of Neurology Alastair Compston was appointed CBE ‘for services to multiple sclerosis treatment’. Compston has been involved with research on the mechanisms and treatment of multiple sclerosis since 1976, the last 26 years based in Cambridge.

Apart from work identifying many genetic risk variants for susceptibility to the disease, he has introduced Alemtuzumab (Lemtrada) as a highly effective treatment for early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Since 2013, Alemtuzumab has been licensed throughout the world and is now used increasingly as a first-line therapy in young adults with this potentially disabling condition.

Compston, a Fellow of Jesus College, said: “I am delighted to receive this honour but especially pleased that the citation recognises the work of a large research community, in Cambridge and elsewhere, that has transformed the outlook for young people with multiple sclerosis facing an otherwise uncertain future.”

Dr Emily Shuckburgh has been appointed OBE 'for services to science and public communication of science'. A Fellow of Darwin College, she is a member of the Faculty of Mathematics and holds a number of positions in the ̽��ֱ��.

Image shows (left to right): Professor Sir David MacKay, Professor Alastair Compston, and Professor Dame Ann Dowling.

Members have been recognised for their outstanding contribution to society

̽��ֱ��text in this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. For image use please see separate credits above.

Yes

̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge launches major fundraising campaign

th288 — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 11:56:52 +0000

̽��ֱ��campaign for the ̽��ֱ�� and Colleges of Cambridge will focus on the ̽��ֱ��’s impact on the world. Cambridge will be working with philanthropists to address major global problems.

Through it, major investment has been secured in a programme of research into the causes of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease led by Professor Chris Dobson, Master of St John’s College.

It will feed into the dynamic environment of the Cambridge technology cluster, helping to drive innovation and entrepreneurship. James Dyson is giving to the campaign in support of the next generation of engineers who will lead this effort.

Recent gifts have included a major gift to economics research and teaching from Bill and Weslie Janeway, one from the ALBORADA Trust to support the development of African research capacity in areas such as infectious disease and governance and human rights, and a gift by Dennis and Mireille Gillings to support global public health leadership in partnership with Institut Pasteur.

5,000 donors have already given to the campaign, many of whom are Cambridge alumni, motivated to give back to their college in recognition of the education they received as students.

Co-Chairs of the campaign are Dr Mohamed A. El-Erian, one of the world’s most successful investors, and Harvey McGrath, Chairman of Big Society Capital. Both Dr El-Erian and Mr McGrath have been closely involved with preparations for the campaign over the last two years.

Dr El-Erian said: “I am delighted to be co-chairing this campaign, and to be signalling my philanthropic commitment to Cambridge. My experience at Cambridge has shaped my entire life since – it has been the main driver of my professional development – and for good reason. Cambridge taught me not just what, but how, to think – as it has done so for countless others for over 800 years.”

Mr McGrath said: “Private capital has a crucial role to play in addressing societal issues. It can enable risk taking and original thought. It can support new approaches to old problems. Nowhere is this truer than at the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge, which makes such a major contribution to the world in such a diversity of ways, and I am proud to be co-chairing this campaign.”

̽��ֱ��Vice-Chancellor, Professor Leszek Borysiewicz, said: “Philanthropy is vital to the future of Cambridge: it underpins our ambition by allowing us the space to innovate, free from the constraints of political and economic change. In addition, I want to see Cambridge rise to the world’s many challenges in energy, food, healthcare, education, and inequality. Philanthropy is uniquely placed to enable the new ways of working and partnerships with NGOs and industry that can see us make a powerful contribution in these critical areas.”

Dr Mohamed A. El-Erian

̽��ֱ��former Chief Executive of PIMCO, one of the world’s largest investment management companies, Dr El-Erian now serves as Chair of President Obama’s Global Development Council, Chief Economic Advisor for Allianz, and writes regularly for Bloomberg, the Financial Times and Project Syndicate. Dr El-Erian is honorary fellow and alumnus of Queens’ College (Economics, 1977).

Mr Harvey McGrath

Mr McGrath is an alumnus of St Catharine’s College (Geography, 1971) and is now Chairman of Big Society Capital. He is Chairman of a number of charities, including Heart of the City and the Prince’s Teaching Institute, and is a trustee of New Philanthropy Capital, and the Mayor’s Fund for London. He is a member of the Guild of Cambridge Benefactors and was awarded ̽��ֱ��Chancellor’s 800th Anniversary Medal for Outstanding Philanthropy in June 2012.

̽��ֱ�� ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge launched a £2 billion fundraising campaign this weekend as it announced that it has already raised more than £530 million towards that total.

Philanthropy is vital to the future of Cambridge: it underpins our ambition by allowing us the space to innovate, free from the constraints of political and economic change.

̽��ֱ��Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz

What Does Cambridge Mean To You?

̽��ֱ��text in this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. For image use please see separate credits above.

Yes

̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge - Harvey McGrath

Cambridge academics honoured over the New Year

̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge launches major fundraising campaign

What Does Cambridge Mean To You?