Recognition for Westlakes Scientist
Westlakes scientist Dr Paul McDonald has been awarded the title ‘Professor in Environmental Radiochemistry’ by UCLan. This is in recognition of his international standing as a leading scientist studying and assessing the impacts of radioactivity in our environment. Paul has built the research laboratories at The Princess Royal Building into an acknowledged ‘centre of excellence’ for the detailed measurement of radioactivity in samples that range from milk and eggs to estuarine mud and seed-heads. He is a regular advisor to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and is consulted widely on the fate and impact of radioactivity on both Man and ecosystems. Over the past 15 years at Westlakes Paul has supervised ten PhD students, and produced over 45 peer reviewed scientific publications.
On being notified of this award Paul said ‘I was pleased and pleasantly surprised to learn of my new title and will use it to continue to do the best possible job for both UCLan and the Westlakes Research Institute. I look forward to the possibilities that come with the role, including the potential to further raise the profile of the environmental work we are doing here at Westlakes’.
‘Westlakes Research Institute, and the commercial work we undertake through Westlakes Scientific Consulting Ltd, is highly regarded by Governments, regulators, customers, as well as the scientific experts we interact with on a regular basis’, said Steve Bradley, CEO at Westlakes. He added ‘We are delighted that Paul’s work has been recognised in this way, it shows that World-leading research is well established in West Cumbria’.