Sidmouth woman awarded OBE for services to climate science

A Sidmouth woman has been awarded an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.

Dr Helene Hewitt, a science fellow at the Met Office, was given the award for her services to climate science.

She is an internationally-renowned climate scientist with expertise in ocean and sea-ice modelling.

The list reads: "Officers of the Order of the British Empire: Dr Helene Theresa Hewitt, Science Fellow Ocean Modelling, Meteorological Office. For services to Climate Science (Sidmouth, Devon)."

She has been the Coordinating Lead Author on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) sixth Assessment Report (AR6) for Chapter 9, Ocean, Cryosphere and Sea Level Change for the past four years.

The report provides the 'most definitive evidence' of the physical impacts of climate change, according to the Met Office.

Dr Hewitt said: "I'm humbled to receive this honour on the Queens Platinum Jubilee. I really appreciate that the many years of work on IPCC reports to provide expert assessment on climate change has been recognised in this way.

"I'm extremely grateful to all my family, friends and colleagues for their support and I hope this inspires young girls and women to join the next generation of climate scientists."

What is the Queen's Birthday Honours List?

The Honours Lists are published twice each year, at the New Year and on the Queen's official birthday (the Birthday Honours List was published this year to coincide with the Platinum Jubilee), and award knighthoods, damehoods, CBEs, OBEs, MBEs, and BEMs.

The Queen's Birthday Honours List for 2022 has recognised outstanding contributions across all sectors, but also for 'sustained public service, the environment and sustainability, and youth engagement'.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "This historic Platinum Jubilee is not only a celebration of the monarch but of the qualities she possesses.

"The honours she confers this week reflect many of those qualities that have been invaluable from all different walks of life and to communities across the UK.

"I pay tribute to all of this year's winners. Their stories of courage and compassion are an inspiration to us all."