University of York honours six for their contribution to society
Posted on 10 July 2009
They are among six people to receive honorary doctorates at the University’s graduation ceremonies on July 15, 16 and 17.
Every year, the University confers honorary degrees on people who have made a significant contribution to society. Honorary graduates are selected from nominations by members of the University and often have existing links with academic departments or are York alumni.
Professor John Beddington
Professor John Beddington has been the Government’s Chief Scientific Advisor and Head of the Government Office for Science since January 2008.
A former lecturer in population biology at the University of York, Professor Beddington has advised numerous Government departments and Parliamentary committees in this country as well as overseas governments and international bodies.
He became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2001 and in 2004 he was awarded the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George by the Queen for services to fisheries science and management.
Kenny Wheeler
Kenny Wheeler is regarded as one of the most influential jazz musicians of his generation.
Born and educated in Canada but based in Britain since 1952, he has appeared as featured artist on countless recordings including some 20 albums as leader.
Music for Large and Small Ensembles is studied in music colleges around the world. Angel Song sold 45,000 copies and What Now? was nominated for a Grammy in 2005.
Mr Wheeler has been honoured with the Canadian Jazz Laureate award and made an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Professor Sir Alex Markham
Professor Sir Alex Markham was Chief Executive of the charity Cancer Research UK for four years and is currently Professor of Medicine at the University of Leeds.
He has made significant contributions to medical science in a variety of fields, including as one of the pioneering figures in molecular genetics research in the UK.
Sir Alex is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, a Board Director of the International Union against Cancer and former Chairman of the National Cancer Research Institute.
He was awarded a knighthood for services to medicine in the 2008 New Year Honours List.
Sir Robin Saxby
Sir Robin Saxby is a founder and Chairman of the film, media and production company Arolla Partners Ltd. He was the founding CEO and Chairman of Arm Holdings plc, one of the foremost British engineering successes of recent times.
He is an Honorary Fellow and past President of the Institution of Engineering and Technology and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.
Sir Robin was awarded a knighthood for services to the information technology industry in the 2002 New Year Honours List.
Professor Kel Fidler
Professor Kel Fidler was Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Northumbria for seven years until his retirement in August 2008.
He was previously at the University of York where he held the posts of Head of the Department of Electronics, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor.
Professor Fidler is currently Chair of the UK Engineering Council, ECuk, a non-executive Director of Nexus and Chair of the Associates of the Discover Museum of Science and Technology.
He was elected Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in July 2005.
Andrew Hunt
Andrew Hunt has played a leading role in improving the quality and relevance of the science taught in schools for more than 30 years.
Starting his career as a chemistry teacher, he moved into curriculum development full-time in 1985 with the Nuffield-Chelsea Curriculum Trust and the Association for Science Education.
From 1994 until 2008 he was Director of the Nuffield Curriculum Centre, frequently working in close collaboration with the University of York Science Education Group. This partnership’s innovations included Twenty First Century Science, a GCSE science curriculum published in 2006 and already taught in more than 1,000 schools.
There were a further three recipients of honorary degrees at the University’s graduation ceremonies in January. They were psychologist and TV presenter Professor Tanya Byron, former chief executive of City of York Council Dr David Atkinson and Professor Else Roesdahl, an expert on Viking and medieval archaeology.
Notes to editors:
- Professor Sir Alex Markham will be presented for his honorary degree by Professor Ian Greer, Dean of the Hull York Medical School, in Ceremony One, 12 noon on 15 July.
- Professor Kel Fidler and Sir Robin Saxby will be presented for their honorary degrees by Professor John Robinson and Professor David Howard respectively, both from the Department of Electronics, in Ceremony Four, 12 noon on 16 July.
- Andrew Hunt will be presented for his honorary degree by Professor John Holman, Director of the National Science Learning Centre and National STEM Director, in Ceremony Six, 9.30am on 17 July.
- Professor John Beddington will be presented for his honorary degree by Professor Alastair Fitter, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, in Ceremony Seven, 12 noon on 17 July.
- Kenny Wheeler will be presented for his honorary degree by Dr Jonathan Eato, from the Department of Music, in Ceremony Eight, 3pm on 17 July.