The King's Birthday Honours 2025 Lists have been published, marking the achievements and service of extraordinary people across the UK, including members of the MPLS Division and wider University.
Professor Ursula Martin
Emeritus Oxford mathematician and computer scientist Professor Ursula Martin has been appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to science and education.
Professor Martin's research started in algebra, logic, and computational proofs, then broadened to explore how computer science and mathematics circulate and impact society. She led the first scholarly investigation of the mathematics of Ada Lovelace and is currently supported by the Leverhulme Trust to investigate the impact of artificial intelligence on mathematics.
Professor Martin said: ‘I am delighted and humbled to receive this honour. I truly appreciate my good fortune in working with colleagues from so many disciplines within and beyond the UK, in organisations ranging from high-tech companies to libraries and museums.’
Dr Keith Kirby
Dr Keith Kirby, Visiting Researcher at the Department of Biology has been appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to ecology, forestry, and woodland management.
Dr Kirby said: ‘Fifty years ago, I was finishing my D.Phil. studying bramble growth in Wytham Woods. I had no idea where it would lead, but I ended up with the Nature Conservancy Council as national forestry and woodland officer. Thirty plus years later in 2012 I retired from Natural England as it had become, returning to Oxford and continuing my studies in Wytham as visiting researcher in the Department of Plant Sciences/Biology. It has been a privilege to work in forestry and conservation over all this time and to be given this honour is fantastic.’
Dr Kirby’s work centres on documenting long-term ecological changes in British woodlands through resurveying permanent vegetation plots established decades ago, examining impacts from deer browsing, tree diseases, and historical land use. He has particular interest in wood-pasture systems and their significance for understanding both historical landscapes and contemporary rewilding approaches.
Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell
Astrophysicist Professor Dame Susan Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Professor Emeritus at the Department of Physics, has been appointed Companion of Honour (CH).
As a graduate student in radio astronomy at Cambridge, Jocelyn Bell was responsible for the discovery of pulsars and her research has since spanned gamma ray, X-ray, infrared and millimetre wavelength astronomy. She currently holds a Professorial Fellowship in Mansfield College, University of Oxford, and is a Visiting Academic in the University's Department of Physics.
Professor Jim Naismith, Head of the Mathematics, Physical and Life Sciences Division said: ‘It is wonderful to see the exceptional contributions of Dame Jocelyn, Dame Ursula, and Keith Kirby recognised by the King. Jocelyn’s ground-breaking discovery of radio pulsars has profoundly shaped our understanding of the universe, and her unwavering advocacy for inclusivity in science has inspired generations. Becoming a Companion of Honour is a fitting tribute. Ursula’s pioneering work bridging mathematics and computer science, combined with her passionate commitment to education, has made a lasting impact on research and teaching both within Oxford and internationally. The recognition in the award of the DBE is richly deserved. Keith’s invaluable contributions to ecology, forestry, and woodland management, acknowledged with an MBE, highlight the vital importance of protecting our natural world. We are immensely proud to have such inspirational colleagues within our MPLS community, and I warmly congratulate them all.’