Renowned academic gets royal seal of approval

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One of Heriot-Watt's most celebrated academics was invited to attend Buckingham Palace for a reception with the Queen, this week.

Sir Geoffrey Palmer OBE was summoned to Buckingham Palace where the monarch was hosting a reception for the Commonwealth Diaspora in the UK.

Guests from all walks of life were invited to the event which celebrated those who have made a postive contribution to business, community and culture in the UK.

And the Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall, Prime Minister Theresa May and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson were also present.

It was in 1989, that Sir Geoffrey Palmer became the first black professor in Scotland and was knighted in the 2014 New Year Honours.

He is a Professor Emeritus in the School of Life Sciences at Heriot-Watt and a human rights activist.

Sir Palmer said:  “I was delighted to be invited to Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen and other senior members of the royal family.

“The event itself, was remarkable as it gave guests the chance to meet some incredible people from across the UK.

“It was a great honour to be recognised.”

Palmer discovered the barley abrasion process while a researcher at the Brewing Research Foundation from 1968 to 1977.

He was the first European to be honoured with the American Society of Brewing Chemists Award of Distinction and was considered for the "Nobel prize of brewing" in 1989.