Queen's New Year honours recognise College academics

Professors honoured for their contribution to science and medicine - News

Thursday 4 January 2007
By Naomi Weston

Important contributions to science and medicine made by two Imperial College London academics have been recognised in the Queen’s New Year honours.

Emeritus Professor Malcolm Green  from the National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI), Faculty of Medicine, is made a Knight Bachelor for services to medicine. Jeffrey Waage , Professor of Applied Ecology in the Centre for Environmental Policy, Faculty of Natural Sciences, receives an OBE for services to science.

Sir Malcolm Green, a Professor of Thoracic Medicine, recently retired from his posts as Professor of Respiratory Medicine, Vice Principal of the Faculty of Medicine and Head of the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College London.

He founded the British Lung Foundation and is renowned for his energetic approach to raising money for research into respiratory disease and his medical expertise.

Dame Helena Shovelton, Chief Executive of the British Lung Foundation, said: "The one in seven people in the UK who have respiratory disease need a great champion and we are proud of the fact that they have it in the form of the British Lung Foundation, thanks to Malcolm Green’s energy, strength of character and commitment. For a man who has achieved so much he has remained a man of great humility."

Throughout his career, Professor Green has had a major interest in research, particularly in respiratory physiology including the small airways, and the respiratory muscles. In addition, he worked in the field of air pollution, increasing public awareness of the effects of pollution on lung health.

He comments on his honour: "I am delighted and thrilled to be honoured in this way. I have been proud to work at the National Heart and Lung Institute and Imperial College with so many great doctors and biomedical scientists. This award is a tribute also to their work and achievements, particularly in the fields of heart and lung research."

Professor Waage has spent much of his career working on the biological control of pests. As Director of the International Institute of Biological Control, he led development of a number of breakthroughs, including a biological product for the control of locust plagues. He also helped to found and lead the Global Invasive Species Programme and its campaign to reduce the impact of alien species invasions worldwide. At Imperial, he has led and restructured departments of agriculture and environmental science, and contributed to agricultural research policy through positions on the BBSRC Strategy Board and the Defra Science Advisory Council.

Professor Waage comments on his honour: "I am grateful for the colleagues and support I have had these past years at Wye and Imperial. I regard this honour as a challenge for what I should do next as much as a reward for what has been achieved, and it is particularly nice for me as an expatriate American of 30 years residence to feel that I am making a useful contribution to my adopted country."

Sir Richard Sykes, Rector of the College comments on their accolade: "The research focuses of Sir Malcolm and Jeff are different in many ways, but they are joined by a commitment to improving lives and their influence will be felt for many years to come. I am delighted that their major contributions have been recognised so prominently."