OBE for Professor Andrew Harrison

Prof Andrew Harrison, CEO of Diamond Light Source, has been awarded an OBE for services to science especially during COVID lockdown.

Upon receiving the news, Andrew said: “While I am obviously delighted on a personal level to receive this award – I consider it to be a tribute to our amazingly dedicated team of 700+ people supporting around 14,000 academic and industrial researchers who are tackling some of the most challenging questions of our time including Covid-19 research, helping to design new batteries and solve the plastic recycling problem with identification of a highly efficient plastic degrading enzyme. Many of researchers have worked 24/7, during and since lock-down, investigating ways to identify new therapies for Covid-19 with several breakthrough papers including one this week which has identified potential ways forward to rapidly design improved and more potent compounds in the fight against the virus.”

This accolade was viewed not just for Andrew but for all those who work and use Diamond, it being ‘just a great place to work!’