Dr Taylor (pictured right) has received a CBE for his services to science and technology following his retirement in 2019 as Executive Director of STFC’s National Laboratories. In this role, he had overall responsible for STFC’s three research centres – the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire, the Daresbury Laboratory in Cheshire and the Astronomy Technology Centre in Edinburgh – and led the development of their world-class capabilities in accelerator technology, space science, particle physics, instrumentation and scientific computing as well as ISIS and the Central Laser Facility.
Under his leadership Dr Taylor fostered a culture across all STFC’s National Laboratories that enhanced their efficiency through sharing technology across disciplines; delivered impact to the UK economy through the application of skills, access to facilities and the transfer of technology; supported the development of Innovation Campuses at Harwell, Daresbury and the Higgs Centre at Edinburgh; and worked to inspire the next generation of researchers through high quality outreach and public engagement activities.
Internationally Dr Taylor has played a key role in highly productive and sustained collaborations across Europe, USA, Japan and China, leading to enhanced global scientific cooperation and impact.
Speaking about the award, Dr Taylor said: “I am delighted to receive this award, which recognises STFC’s excellence in science and technology. I feel very privileged to have been able to be part of this success, and to have worked with outstanding colleagues over the years in the Directors and staff of the National Laboratories”.
This honour is the latest recognition for Dr Taylor’s work and follows his recent election as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2019, award of the Glazebrook Medal of the Institute of Physics and Fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. The University of Glasgow and the University of London both recognised his contribution to science through the award of Honorary Doctorates, and he is an Honorary Fellow of Mansfield College Oxford.
Other scientists from within the STFC research community to be honoured on this occasion include: Professor Anthony Cheetham, from the University of Cambridge, who was knighted for services to Material Chemistry, UK Science and Global Outreach and Professor Edward Hawkins, from the University of Reading, who received an MBE for services to Climate Science and Science Communication
Professor Mark Thomson, STFC’s Executive Chair, said of these honours: "It is incredibly pleasing to see this public recognition for the contribution made by these members of the STFC research community to furthering the scientific endeavours of the UK. I am particularly happy to see this latest recognition of the substantial contribution Andrew has made both on behalf of STFC and the UK in enriching the global scientific landscape.”
