The IET: Engineers recognised in HM The Queen’s Birthday Honours
This year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours' list sees three Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) members recognised for their achievements and service to science and engineering.
Professor Nigel Shadbolt, IET member and Professor of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Southampton, received a Knighthood for services to science and engineering.
Both for services to engineering, Professor Jeremy Watson, IET Fellow and Director of Global Research at Arup, received a CBE. Dr Christopher Elliott, IET member and proprietor of Pitchill Consulting, received an MBE.
Prof Shadbolt, Head of the Web and Internet Science Group at the University of Southampton and Open Data Institute (ODI) chairman, is one of the co-creators of the interdisciplinary field of Web Science. Together with fellow Southampton Professor and inventor of the World Wide Web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, Prof Shadbolt established the ODI in East London’s Tech City last December.
Prof Shadbolt said, “I’m surprised and delighted to be recognised with this very special honour. I'm fortunate to have been involved at a crucial period working with outstanding colleagues in the development of both Web Science and the Open Data movement. I hope that I can continue to make a difference as we seek to understand how the Web is evolving, and ensure that we are empowered individually and collectively.”
IET Fellow and Trustee, Prof Jeremy Watson is Arup’s Global Research Director, and is responsible for Group research strategy. Independently, he holds the position of Chief Scientific Adviser to the Department of Communities and Local Government. Prof Watson has wide professional experience, having undertaken research and technical management roles in industry and academe plus service with government and research councils. Prof Watson has served the IET for many years, most recently as the founder chair of the IET Innovation and Emerging Technologies Advisory Panel.
He said: “I am delighted to receive this important honour, and hope it brings reputational value to the IET and the profession. I would like to thank all my colleagues in public, private, university and institutional sectors who have supported my mission to enhance value from, and give a higher visibility of engineering.”
On receiving his MBE, IET member Dr Christopher Elliott said: “I'm delighted with the citation ‘for services to engineering’ and hope that I can continue to serve it in the future.”
His company, Pitchill Consulting, works with its clients to manage the risks that arise from technology and regulation. Complex management or engineering systems can respond to changes in the law or technology in unexpected ways, leading to uncertainty and increased costs, lower performance or reduced safety. Pitchill Consulting helps its clients develop robust and responsible solutions to the management of risk and the governance that assures them.
The Queen’s Birthday Honours' lists are published in June every year in recognition of the achievements and service of extraordinary people across the UK. In total, this year’s list sees 1,180 people receive an award, with science and technology making up two per cent of the total.
ENDS
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