The University of Glasgow is pleased to announce that Professor David Saxon, Dean of the Faculty of Physical Sciences, will be awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) as announced in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours list.

Professor David Saxon has an international reputation for his research in the field of experimental particle physics. His current research focuses on the 'Atlas' experiment exploring the origin of mass and the forces that control nature, and the 'Zeus' project on the structure of the proton. The projects are based in Hamburg and Geneva respectively.

Professor Saxon arrived at the University of Glasgow in 1990, having previously held posts at Oxford University, Columbia University in New York and Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. He completed a five-year term as Head of the Department of Physics & Astronomy where he fostered a substantial growth in the external research income earned by the Department. He was elected Dean of the Faculty of Physical Sciences and took up this position in 2002.

Above and beyond his academic career, Professor Saxon has made substantial contributions to the wider scientific community. He has held membership and chair responsibilities of the Particle Physics & Astronomy Research Council, Central Laboratory Research Councils and the UK committee of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research. Currently he is the Research Awards Convener the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He has also served on the Programme Committee of Deutsches Elektronen Synchotron, Hamburg and the External Review Committee CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research in Geneva. He is the chairman of the Institute of Physics in Scotland.

Professor Saxon has combined enthusiasm for the very highest quality of research with sympathy and understanding for the staff of the Faculty of which he is Dean. Professor Saxon continues to play a major role in developing Physics Research Policy in Scotland, the UK and through international organisations such as CERN.

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First published: 20 June 2005