Professor Helen Roy, of the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, has been presented with an MBE in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
The ecologist was recognised in the New Year Honours List for her outstanding service to biodiversity research, citizen science and science communication.
And on Friday, she went with her family to Buckingham Palace, where she was officially presented with her MBE by Prince Charles.
Professor Roy – who is often interviewed on television and radio about her work and biological recording - said: “It was such a privilege to receive an MBE on behalf of the volunteer recording community, recognising our collaborative contributions to biodiversity research.
“People have been documenting our wildlife for centuries. The datasets and volunteer recorders are inspiring.
Professor Roy’s research focuses on the effects of environmental change on insect populations and communities, being particularly interested in invasive non-native species and their effects on biodiversity.
She is head of zoology for the Biological Records Centre, based at the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH) and jointly leads CEH’s Population Ecology research group.
Professor Roy is well known for her work on citizen science, leading several major initiatives involving tens of thousands of people, including the BBC Breathing Places Parasite Survey and EDF Energy Big Bumblebee Discovery.
She has been the volunteer scheme organiser for the UK Ladybird Survey for many years,
Links
Staff page of Professor Helen Roy
Professor Roy regularly tweets about ladybirds, ecology and citizen science using the handle @UKLadybirds