The Granthams awarded honorary degree by Imperial College London

As well as over 1,600 students graduating in June's ceremony with higher degrees in science, engineering, medicine and business, the College awarded an honorary degree to philanthropists Jeremy and Hannelore Grantham.

Imperial's 2009 Postgraduate award ceremony was held in May at the Royal Albert Hall. As well as over 1,600 students graduating with higher degrees in science, engineering, medicine and business, the College awarded an honourary degree jointly to philanthropists Jeremy and Hannelore Grantham.

Jeremy and Hannelore are the founders of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change at Imperial College London, creating it in 2007 with a multi-million pound donation from the Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment. A year later they established a sister Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics.

Jeremy and Hannelore Grantham are committed philanthropists focused on protecting the environment. Over a decade ago they established the Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment with the mission of protecting and improving the global environment. The Foundation supports organisations such as World Wildlife Fund, Environmental Defense Fund, The Nature Conservancy and Oxfam, and also funds the Grantham Prize for Excellence in Reporting on the Environment.