02 Jan 08

Eight Oxford University academics have been recognised in the New Year Honours List announced on 29 December.

Professor John Bell, Regius Professor of Medicine and Student of Christ Church has been made a Knight Bachelor (KB) for services to medicine. He is President of the Academy of Medical Sciences and was the Founder of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics. He has been extensively involved in the development of research programmes in genetics and genomics and in the development of a clinical research programme across the UK. His research programme has contributed to a clearer understanding of Type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.

Professor Kay Davies, Dr Lee’s Professor of Anatomy and Fellow of Hertford College, has been made a Dame of the British Empire (DBE) for services to science. Professor Davies is Director of the Medical Research Unit functional genetics unit, Co-Director of the Oxford Centre for Gene Function and a founding Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences. Her research interests lie in the molecular analysis of human genetic disease, particularly the genetic basis of neuromuscular and neurological disorders such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy and spinal muscular atrophy.

Dr Margaret Bent, Senior Research Fellow at All Souls College, has been made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for services to musicology. Her research centres on English, French and Italian music of the 14th to 16th centuries. She co-directs the Digital Image Archive of Medieval Music.

Michael Noble, Professor of Social Policy and Fellow of Green College has been made a CBE for services to social research on poverty and deprivation. His major research interests are in the areas of poverty, social exclusion and income maintenance policy in both developed and developing countries.

Richard Ellis, Professorial Fellow at Merton College, has been made a CBE for services to science. His research interests focus on galaxy evolution and observational cosmology.

Dr Peter Neumann, Lecturer in Mathematics and Fellow of the Queen’s College has been awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to education. He has served as Chairman of the UK Mathematics Trust and President of the British Society for the History of Mathematics.

Kathy Sylva, Professor of Educational Psychology and Fellow of Jesus College, has been awarded an Honorary OBE for services to children and families. Her research interest focus on early years education and care. The award is Honorary as she is an American citizen.

Robert Cassen, Emeritus Professor of the Economics of Development and Emeritus Fellow of St Antony’s College has been awarded the OBE for services to education.