A range of bioscientists involved in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic have been honoured in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2020.

In total six of the UK government's advisers from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) were recognised. Mathematical biologist Professor Julia Gog (University of Cambridge), infectious disease modeller Professor Graham Medley (LSHTM), air quality expert Professor Cath Noakes (University of Leeds), health psychologist Professor Lucy Yardley (University of Southampton), professor of child health and outbreak medicine Calum Semple (University of Liverpool) and Dr James Rubin, reader in the psychology of emerging health risks at King’s College London, were all made OBEs for services to the Covid-19 response.

Of the 1,495 people who received an award in this year’s list, a large number were from the medical, nursing, pharmaceutical, biotech or microbiology professions, highlighting the extraordinary efforts across the health and life science sectors this year.

Several RSB Fellows were recognised in the honours, including epidemiologist Professor Tim Spector FRSB (King’s College London), who helped develop the COVID symptom tracker app, awarded an OBE for services to the Covid-19 response, and David Webb FRSB, Christison Professor of Therapeutics & Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Edinburgh, who received a CBE for services to clinical pharmacology research and education. RSB affiliate Sir Stephen Holgate, clinical professor of immunopharmacology at the University of Southampton, received a knighthood for services to medical research.

Physicist and TV presenter Professor Brian Cox Hon FRSB was made OBE for services to the promotion of science, and RSB honorary Fellow Sir David Attenborough, who was knighted in 1985, was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael And St George for services to television broadcasting and to conservation.

A full list of the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours is available here. If you are a member and have received an award we would love to hear about it - contact biologist@rsb.org.uk.