Sussex awards fellowships to distinguished alumni and academics

Among the final celebrations of its 50th anniversary this year, Sussex awarded fellowships to people associated with the University who have made a distinguished contribution in any field or activity since its foundation in 1961.

Historical novelist Dr Philippa Gregory joined fellow recipients including science writer Dr John Gribbin, BBC radio broadcaster Robin Lustig and environmentalist Jonathon Porritt for a special presentation ceremony on 13 September, 2012.

Others who received certificates at the ceremony on campus include:

• Tom Druitt, who runs the Big Lemon bus service to the University campus;
• Michael Fuller, Chief Constable of Kent Police 2004-10, who has a degree in Social Psychology from Sussex;
• Lord (Martin) Rees, Astronomer Royal, who has taught at Sussex;
• and Sussex graduate Dr Jamie Shea, who received worldwide attention in 1999 during the Kosovo War, when he served as the spokesperson for NATO.

Fellowships have also been accepted by geneticist Professor Adrian Bird; Sussex geography alumna Samantha Cameron, who was awarded an MBE in 2005 for her conservation and development work in Madagascar; Professor Sir Richard Jolly, a leading development economist who was director of the Institute of Development Studies (based on the Sussex campus) from 1972-81; and economist Professor Michael Lipton.

Nominations were invited from students, staff, alumni and friends of the University.

The recipients were selected by a committee made up of current staff and independent members of Council (the University’s governing body).

The Former Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Farthing, chaired the committee. He said: “We had many excellent suggestions and were impressed with the range and quality of those put forward for fellowships. The final selection was very tough.

“We are extremely proud to recognise the distinguished contributions in their field by this group of individuals and to bestow fellowships upon them during our 50th anniversary year.”

The full list of recipients is: Professor Firdous Azim, Professor Sir John Ball, Professor Adrian Bird, Campbell Black, Samantha Cameron, Professor Robert Chambers, Professor David Clary, Tom Druitt, Dr Alison Evans, Michael Fuller, Professor Paul Gilroy, Professor Fred Gray, Dr Philippa Gregory, Dr John Gribbin, Peter Hofman, Professor Sir Richard Jolly, Sir Peter Jonas, Professor Calestous Juma, Professor Michael Land, Professor Michael Lipton, Dr Geoff Lockwood, Robin Lustig, Professor Georgina Mace, Professor Margaret McGowan, Mary McMurray, Professor Robin Milner-Gulland, Professor Michael Mingos, Professor John Murrell, Professor Michael Pendlebury, Sean Phelan, Jonathon Porritt, Lord (Martin) Rees, Professor Christopher Sachrajda, Dr Jamie Shea, Professor Dorothy Sheridan, Professor Barry Supple, Professor Sir Michael Thompson, Professor Edward Timms, Professor John Toland, Professor Peter Townsend, Professor Nick von Tunzelmann, Professor Dame Helen Wallace, Beryl Williams and Professor Donald Winch.