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Oxford academics rewarded for services to Britain

Twelve University figures have been commended in the New Year's Honours

Senior Oxford academics across a range of fields have been recognised in the 2018 New Year’s Honours list.

Professor Margaret MacMillan has been appointed Companion of Honour (CH) for services to higher education, history and international affairs.

The Honorary Fellow and former Warden of St. Anthony’s College joins only 65 others who currently hold the special distinction.

Two knighthoods have also been awarded. The first will go to Bernard Silverman, Emeritus Professor of Statistics and former Master of St. Peter’s College. Silverman recently served as Chief Scientific Adviser to the Home Office. The other goes to Professor Tim Besely CBE, currently at LSE, who was knighted for services to Economics and Public Policy.

Professor Ngaire Woods, founding Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government, is appointed CBE.

Woods said: “I am honoured by this award which reflects the remarkable dedication of the staff, faculty and students of the Blavatnik School of Government.

“The establishment of the School underscores what is possible when fantastic colleagues and supporters across Oxford and across the world come together to address a very serious challenge.”

Professor Jane Humphries, fellow of All Souls, has also been given a CBE for services to Social Science and Economic History.

Joining them are three recipients of an OBE. Professor Judy Sebba is recognised for services to Higher Education and Disadvantaged Young People.

Sebba, who serves as Director of the Rees Centre at the University’s Department of Education, said: “I am delighted to be receiving this honour.

“Our findings repeatedly show that young people in care need others to believe in them if they are to believe in themselves.”

Other recepients include Translational Medicine Professor Chas Bountra and Alan Giles of the Saïd Business School.

Three MBEs were also announced. One of the recepients, the Director of the University’s Migration Observatory, Madeleine Sumption, said: “I’m delighted that the work of the Migration Observatory has been recognised in this way.

“Migration has been one of the defining issues in the UK’s public debate in the past few years and the whole team has worked incredibly hard to make high-quality evidence accessible to the public, the media, policymakers and civil society.”

Dr Jake Dunning, a Visiting Research Fellow in the Epidemic Diseases Research Group, is recognised for services to Clinical Research for trials conducted during the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. He said he was “truly humbled by this award.”

Twelve awards in total have been given. Recently-appointed Pro-Vice-Chancellor Dr David Prout, a former senior civil servant, has been appointed Companion of the Order of Bath.

1,123 people have been recognised overall in the New Year’s Honours. Seven university members were given honours in the 2017 list.

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