Geoff Palmer, Professor Emeritus in the School of Life Sciences, was knighted in the New Year Honours list for services to human rights, science and charity.
Professor Geoff Palmer OBE, is a Heriot-Watt graduate and an expert in cereals who worked in the International Centre for Brewing and Distilling until his retirement.
In retirement, Geoff continued to serve the University as a member of Court Committees and outside the university he undertakes charitable work with ex-offenders and is a prominent anti-racism campaigner.