UEA academics receive Freedom of the City of London for impactful work
By: Communications
Prof Claire Jowitt, Professor in English and History, and Dr Darrell Green, Lecturer in RNA Biology, were among those awarded the Freedom of the City of London on Friday 19 April, by Lord Mayor Prof Michael Mainelli.
The ceremony saw 40 recipients from a broad spectrum of sectors honoured at the Mansion House for their outstanding contributions in their respective fields.
Prof Jowitt received her honour in recognition of her impactful Gloucester work, while Dr Green received the honour for his innovative work in genetics.
Prof Jowitt said: “As a historian I am proud to receive this ancient honour, which dates back to the thirteenth century, and I am gratified to be included in a cohort of recipients which included so many inspirational leaders in their fields.”
Dr Green said: “I am beyond honoured to receive this award. It means a lot to me that our work is being recognised for its importance. Thank you to everyone who has been involved in our research programme over the years.”
UEA alumni and geneticist Sir Paul Nurse, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 2001 and returned to campus last month to host an inspiring lecture as part of UEA’s 60th anniversary celebrations, was also among the 40 recipients of the honour for his work in the field of genetics.
Image: Prof Claire Jowitt (middle) and Dr Darrell Green (right) at the Freedom of the City of London awards
Freedom of the City of London
The group freedom awards were given as part of the Lord Mayor’s ‘Connect to Prosper’ theme, which focuses on the City's expertise in areas including finance, law, art, and engineering, and brings together leading experts from diverse backgrounds to work on critical global challenges, such as climate change and artificial intelligence.
The 40 recipients were nominated for the Freedom by Lord Mayor, Prof Michael Mainelli, and City Corporation Alderman, Alastair King.
One of the City of London’s ancient traditions, the Freedom is believed to have begun in 1237 and enabled recipients to carry out their trade. As well as being nominated for or applying for the Freedom, it is also offered by the City of London Corporation to individuals as a way of paying tribute to their outstanding contribution to London or public life, or to celebrate a very significant achievement.
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