Congratulations to Jim Smith and Jeffrey Tate, both Honorary Fellows of the College, who have been knighted in the New Year's Honours.
Jim Smith has been knighted for services to Medical Research and Science Education. The citation says: "Dr Smith, Director of Science at the Wellcome Trust and Senior Group Leader at the Francis Crick Institute, is a scientific leader who has transformed our understanding of embryonic development, giving insights into genetic defects in children and how stem cells develop into different tissues. He played a leading role in the development of the Francis Crick Institute from its early beginnings to its establishment in 2015. Previously, as Director of the Gurdon Institute and then of the MRC National Institute for Medical Research, he provided leadership in UK science across a breadth of disciplines and helped nurture the next generation of outstanding scientists, taking particular care to promote the careers of women."
Jeffrey Tate has been knighted for services to British music overseas. The citation says: "Dr Jeffrey Tate is recognised for his outstanding contribution to music. He is one of the UK’s pre-eminent international musicians and one of the most versatile and respected conductors on the international stage. Principal Conductor of the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra since 2009, he has also featured as a guest conductor with nearly every major orchestra and opera house in the world. He has brought the work of British composers to audiences outside the UK and is one of the world’s foremost interpreters of German music. He was born with spina bifida and has raised awareness of the condition through his music and his work as President of the UK Spina Bifida charity, Shine, since 1989."
The College is enormously proud of both of them.