New Year Honours for University of Birmingham astrophysicist and psychiatrist
Pioneering gravitational waves scientist and renowned expert in alcohol and drug addiction both publicly recognised for their work.
Dr Ed Day and Professor Adrian ‘Mike’ Cruise have been named in the 2024 New Year Honours.
Emeritus Professor of Astrophysics and Space research at the University of Birmingham Professor Adrian ‘Mike’ Cruise has been awarded an OBE in the 2024 New Year Honours.
An eminent UK astronomer and astrophysicist, Professor Cruise is best known for his pioneering work in the field of gravitational waves.
In 1995 he was appointed to a chair at the University of Birmingham, followed by five years as Head of the School of Physics and Astronomy and five years as Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Transfer.
The award was quite unexpected, and I pay tribute to the many engineers and scientists who have supported my work at Birmingham and in space programmes in many countries across the world.
He formally retired from the University in 2012 but is still active on space experiments with the European Space Agency and the UK Space Agency, and continues his research into gravitational wave science and the development of very high frequency gravitational wave detectors.
He has been Secretary, Vice-President and Treasurer, and President, of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Professor Cruise commented: “The award was quite unexpected, and I pay tribute to the many engineers and scientists who have supported my work at Birmingham and in space programmes in many countries across the world. It has been a privilege to work with such talented people.”
In a second success, University of Birmingham psychiatrist and leading addictions expert Dr Edward Day has been awarded an MBE for ‘Services to Vulnerable People’.
Dr Day, who is the UK’s National Recovery Champion, combines his clinical work in the NHS with research and teaching in the University’s School of Psychology. He played a key role in the largest review of the country’s drug treatment services for 20 years, led by Dame Carol Black, which informed the Government’s ten-year drug strategy, published in 2021.
I hope my work has highlighted that people with addiction can and do recover and that this should be celebrated.
He also established the College of Lived Experience Recovery Organisations (CLERO) and is renowned for his outstanding clinical research into alcohol and drug treatment across two decades.
A major focus of Dr Day’s work has been designing interventions to increase social network and family support for behaviour change in addiction treatment. More recently, he has been active in projects to understand and facilitate ‘recovery’ from addiction.
Dr Day commented: “I am very proud to receive this honour. I hope my work has highlighted that people with addiction can and do recover and that this should be celebrated.”
Notes for editors
Notes for editors
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