Emeritus Professor receives top Chinese honour

An Emeritus Professor from the University of Nottingham has been given one of China's highest academic honours having been made a foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE). Professor Don Grierson has been awarded the prestigious honour in recognition of his international work in plant biology that has spanned four decades, and his ongoing support and contribution to the enhancement of agricultural and plant science in China. New academics are selected for this prestigious fellowship every two years from academic institutions, research institutes, enterprises and hospitals, both inside and outside China. Selection is based on their contribution to the development of, or role in promoting China's engineering. agriculture and technology. Professor Grierson spent over 40 years at the University of Nottingham where he was the founding head of the School of Biosciences before becoming Pro Vice Chancellor from 2003-2007. His work focused on deciphering the regulation of fruit ripening at a molecular level as well as his pioneering work in the discovery and use of RNAi interference.