Cumbria’s university has announced this year’s honorary doctorate recipient.
The University of Cumbria has awarded emeritus professor John Lee with an honorary doctorate for his dedication to education.
He’s spent his life immersed in education and ecology, with his passion for plants and environmental science starting during his school days in Portsmouth.
After earning a BSc Hons in botany from the University of Sheffield in 1964, and a PhD in 1967, he embarked on a 26-year career at the University of Manchester, serving as head of the department of environmental biology,
Later, he assumed the role of professor of environmental biology at the University of Sheffield, where he also served as dean of the faculty of pure science.
His research focused on plant adaptation to extreme environments, including fieldwork in Cumbria and the Arctic.
Dr Lee actively contributed to scientific societies, serving as president of the British Ecological Society and the International Society of Ecology, and his work has been published in major ecological journals worldwide.
Additionally, he advised international committees on topics such as nitrogen oxide concentration limits and plant ecology.
Dr Lee’s commitment extended beyond academia - he was a member of the National Trust Council, a churchwarden, and a lifelong supporter of Portsmouth Football Club.
This year, 1,299 people are expected to have graduated by the end of the week.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here