Professor Nick Graham of Lancaster Environment Centre has been selected to receive a Philip Leverhulme Prize by the Leverhulme Trust. Philip Leverhulme Prizes recognise the achievement of outstanding researchers whose work has already attracted international recognition and whose future career is exceptionally promising.

The Prize, one of 30 given annually, has a value of £100,000 which may be used over a two or three year period, and is for the advancement of the recipient’s research goals.

Professor Philip Barker, Head of Lancaster Environment Centre, said: “We are delighted that Nick has received this award. He is an outstanding scientist who has demonstrated leadership through his research and has a strong sense of how science can make a difference to the wider understanding and conservation of tropical ecosystems. We are very proud to have him in Lancaster Environment Centre.”

A Royal Society Research Fellow and Chair in Marine Ecology, Professor Graham’s research looks at the environmental and human impacts on coral reefs – including looking at climate-induced bleaching of reefs, fisheries and ecosystem stability. His work also looks at how reefs could recover and how this could be managed.

Professor Graham said: “I am thoroughly delighted to receive the Philip Leverhulme Prize for my work on coral reef ecology and management. It is wonderful to be recognised with such a prestigious award, and the funding associated with the prize will support my growing research group at Lancaster to continue researching this threatened ecosystem.”

In addition to receiving the Prize, Professor Graham has been invited to attend a Gala dinner in London in March 2018, along with other prize recipients, in order to receive a gift in recognition of his prize.