Glittering prizes

Bert Sakmann, director at the Max-Planck-Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg, Germany, has been awarded the honorary degree of DSc (medicine) by the University of London at the first joint graduation ceremony between the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine and University College Medical School, which merged last year.

The Open University has awarded honorary degrees to Jairam Reddy, who chaired the National Commission on Higher Education of South Africa, (DUniv); Ram Takwale, president of the Indian Distance Education Association, (DUniv); Peter Price, former clerk to The Open University council, (MUniv); Jon Snow, news presenter, (DUniv); Women's Hour presenter Jenni Murray (DUniv); novelist Doris Lessing (DUniv).

The 1999 awards from the Institute of Materials for excellence in materials science and engineering have been awarded to: Ethem Turkdogan, a consultant with British Steel, who received the Bessemer Gold Medal for his contribution to the steel industry; Kurt C. Frisch, from the Polymer Institute in Detroit, United States, who received the Colwyn Medal and Prize for services to the rubber industry; John Knott, dean of engineering at the University of Birmingham, who received the Griffith Medal and Prize for distinguished work on materials science and Ian Dillamore, chief executive of Doncasters plc, who received the Platinum Medal for outstanding service to the institute and its objectives.

Tony Curtis, senior lecturer on the business of perfumery degree course, University of Plymouth Business School, has been made an honorary member of the British Society of Perfumers.

Malcolm Molyneux, director of the Wellcome tropical disease centre in Malawi and professor of tropical medicine, at the University of Liverpool's faculty of medicine, has been awarded the dean's medal for promoting the faculty. The University of Bath has awarded honorary degrees to: Anita Roddick, (DIur); Van Morrison, rock musician, (DMus); Dick King-Smith, author of Babe (MA) and civil servant Sir Nigel Wicks (DIur).