CEP luminaries recognised: Head of Department, Zen Makuch pays a personal tribute to our Lifetime Achievement Award winners
“When you’re exploring new frontiers and delving into the unknown as we do here in the Centre for Environmental Policy, it helps to have brilliant people guiding us.”
At the CEP, we’re delighted to have recognised the specific contribution of the following staff members in our 40th anniversary year:
Professor Sir John Beddington – for Services to Science and Society
“John is the person who may lay claim more than any other to Imperial’s world class status in environmental research and scholarship”
Sir John Beddington is a titan in the field of science and policy.
As Chief Government Scientist over the past decade, his leadership in identifying and addressing the ‘perfect storm’ of emerging environmental crises in water, energy, food and climate change has set the standard for government science worldwide.
Currently Professor of Applied Population Biology at our Silwood Park Campus, John adds this new award to many others including a Fellowship of the Royal Society (2000) and the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (2003).
Sir Gordon Conway - for Services to Agricultural Science and Africa
“Gordon’s sheer influence and impact in Agricultural Science has remained unparalleled for going on four decades.”
Sir Gordon Conway is an originator of the world’s green revolution, honoured by Queens, Kings, Presidents and Prime Ministers – and now by Imperial.
As our Professor of International Development, Gordon is working with the brilliant Erik Chavez in implementing mechanisms to draw African small-hold farmers into the formal economy, with the first pilot study of 50,000 just completed.
Gordon’s latest book, One Billion Hungry: Can We feed the World? symbolises his unending struggle to ensure that people on the poorest parts of our planet have food on their dinner tables. He is an example to us all.
Professor Helen Apsimon - for Services to Air Quality Management
“Having started a career in environmental science when the number of female academics could be counted on one’s fingers, Helen went on to eclipse the record of any of her male counterparts by providing research and advisory services to her Majesty’s Governments over a period covering no fewer than five Prime Ministers.”
Professor Helen Apsimon’s research led to the creation of the Integrated Assessment Unit here in the Centre for Environmental Policy, which is investigating future scenarios for emissions of atmospheric pollutants, including impacts on human health and ecosystems.
Her work is highly interdisciplinary, linking science and policy development. She has been a member of numerous expert groups and committees, including the Airborne Particles Expert Group, the National Expert Group on Transboundary Air Pollution, and the Air Quality Expert Group of DEFRA.
We are delighted to honour Helen with this award.
Professor Jane Plant - for Services to Environmental Geochemistry and Humanity
“Last spring, we sadly lost Jane after her sixth brave fight against cancer. She received this award posthumously – for her example as a humanitarian as well as her leading research in environmental geochemistry.”
Aside from being an outstanding colleague here at Imperial, Professor Jane Plant was a world expert in her the field of geochemistry.
Having played a leading role in many international and industry initiatives, Jane’s career is all the more impressive as it was undertaken against a long fight with cancer.
As a scientist, Jane was determined to look at the causes and possible mitigation of her disease and she discovered that there was a low incidence of certain cancers in the Far East where people had a dairy free diet. She started to follow a similar diet and wrote a book on her experience that went on to sell over two million copies in 25 languages.
Jane was a truly remarkable person and scientist – and we miss her greatly.
Professor Nigel Bell - for Services to Environmental Education
“To the extent that a world-renowned degree could ever achieve such status as a result of the efforts of one person, then that person is Nigel.”
Our Emeritus Professor of Environmental Pollution, Professor Nigel Bell is known to many of you as Director of Careers and Alumni for the MSc in Environmental Technology.
Nigel’s research career spans over 42 years and he has been a specialist adviser to enquiries of House of Commons and House of Lords Select Committees over seven times.
In all capacities, his loyalty and conviction always shine through, so it is gratifying to be able to honour him with such a fitting award.
Join the greats in influencing our students
With the example and teaching of such talented individuals, we’re confident of leading the next generation of CEP students to great success, but we still need and value your support.
Gifts from alumni enable us to attract and support the brightest candidates, to pursue exciting and ambitious research and to pay for essential equipment and facility upgrades. They also give us the means to respond promptly to any emerging opportunities and unforeseen challenges as they happen.
Please take a look at the giving pages of our website if you’d like to donate or find out more.
- Zen Makuch, Director and Head of the Department, Centre for Environmental Policy