Seven members of Oxford University have been recognised by the New Years’ Honours List 2022. The List recognises extraordinary contributions to fields ranging from health to education and aims to praise those who have had a significant positive impact on their community and the wider nation.
Professor Irene Tracey FMedSci, MAE, who is both a Professor of Neuroscience and Warden of Merton College, was appointed CBE for her contributions to medical research. She has served on the UKRI Medical Research Council since 2017 and stood as President-elect of the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies.
Professor Tracey said: “I am truly delighted that my past and present team’s research to understand the brain mechanisms underpinning the major medical health problem of chronic pain has been recognised in this way. I am so fortunate to work with such a dedicated group of globally drawn scientists and clinicians, and I am so grateful to Oxford University and my various colleges for all the support over the years.”
Professor Myles Allen, FInstP, Professor of Geosystem Science in the Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment and Department of Physics, a Fellow of Linacre College, and Director of the Oxford Net Zero initiative, has been appointed CBE for services to climate change attribution, prediction, and net zero.
Professor Allen has contributed vastly to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, acting as Coordinating Lead Author of the 2018 Special Report on 1.5°C. He has also instigated the weatherathome and climateprediction.net projects, using publicly-donated computing resources to investigate climate predictions.
Professor Allen said: “All climate research is a team endeavour, and this is particularly true of the net zero journey… I’m honoured to have played my part.”
Coincidentally, Professor Allen is Professor Tracey’s husband.
Professor Jonathan Michie has been appointed OBE for services to education and lifelong learning. Professor Michie is Professor of Innovation and Knowledge Exchange and President of Kellogg College, where he has led Continuing Education for over 13 years. He has been Co-Secretary on the Centenary Commission of Adult Education and now occupies the Chair of the Universities Association for Lifelong Learning.
“The award is for ‘services to education and lifelong learning’ – the successes I’ve been involved in have been due to colleagues at Oxford’s Continuing Education and Kellogg College, and with the Centenary Commission on Adult Education and the Universities Association for Lifelong Learning. I’m most grateful to them all!” Said Professor Michie.
Professor Richard Haynes has been appointed MBE for Global Health.
A coordinator of the RECOVERY trial, which aimed to identify treatments for adults hospitalised with COVID-19, Haynes said: “COVID-19 has brought out the best in health services staff everywhere and I am very proud to be a small part of that. Above all, I would like to thank all of our participants who so bravely took the decision to participate in such difficult circumstances without whose contribution RECOVERY could not succeed.”
Lucy Fletcher, Senior Clinical Trial Manager, has been appointed MBE for services to Clinical Trials. Fletcher was likewise involved with the RECOVERY trial.
“It is a privilege to receive this honour for services to Clinical Trials. My recent involvement in the management of the RECOVERY trial of treatments for COVID-19 has been an extraordinary and hugely rewarding experience,” said Fletcher.
The Right Honourable The Baroness Amos CH PC, the Master of University College Oxford, has been appointed to be a Lady Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
Valerie Amos, who moved to Great Britain from Guyana in 1963 and dedicated her career to creating equal opportunities, has previously been Chief Executive, Equal Opportunities Commission, Secretary of State for International Development, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Lords, Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Co-ordinator, UN and became Master, University College Oxford, in 2020.
Professor Sarah Springman CBE FREng, professor of geotechnical engineering, receives a damehood for services to engineering and to international sports administration. Springman, who is soon to become principal of St Hilda’s College, is a former elite triathlete and renowned geotechnical engineer. A pioneer in soil-structure interaction and geological mass movements, Springman was elected a Fellow of The Royal Academy of Engineering in 2009 and of The Swiss Academy for Technological Sciences in 2015.
Image: Mike Marrah
