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Priestley Chair awarded an OBE

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Professor Jason Lowe, Chair in Interdisciplinary Climate Research at the Priestley Centre, has been awarded an OBE for services to climate science.

A world-leading expert in his field, Professor Lowe is also Head of Climate Services at the Met Office. His work has helped the UK and other countries plan for and respond to the impacts of climate change, directly shaping national and international policy and informing vital decisions to protect businesses and communities.

He has pioneered a more collaborative approach to climate research, bringing together climate science with other academic disciplines, such as economics and social sciences, and emphasising working directly with end-users, from private enterprise to local government.

Professor Lowe led the multinational ‘Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change’ programme from 2009, the first in the world to use a collaborative approach between academia and government which has been highly influential in both UK and international policy.

Professor Lowe said: “Climate change is one of the biggest issues facing humans today. We are already seeing the effects of rising temperatures and changes in rainfall on the UK and around the world.

“As we build towards the next major climate conference, CoP26, which will be hosted by the UK in 2021, it is exciting to be working alongside colleagues in the Priestley Centre developing solutions to the challenges that the changing climate brings.”

Professor Lowe is one of three leading academic researchers at the University of Leeds to be recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Cath Noakes, Professor of Environmental Engineering for Buildings, has been given an OBE for “services to the COVID-19 response”.  Professor Sheena Radford, the Director of the Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, has also been honoured with an OBE, for her research at the frontiers of molecular biology. 

Professor Simone Buitendijk, Vice-Chancellor of the University, said: “It is fantastic news that four of our colleagues have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. What unites them is their strong belief in advancing research and knowledge to benefit the public and the wider community. 

“The honours represent a considerable personal achievement to each of the recipients but they are also a reflection on the strengths and ethos of the University and the vision for the city of Leeds to be seen as a place of research and teaching excellence.”