Foreign Minister’s Commendation - Professor Robin Grimes
2020/3/6
On 6 February 2020, Ambassador Yasumasa Nagamine awarded the Foreign Minister’s Commendation to Professor Robin Grimes, former Chief Scientific Adviser at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, for his contribution to promoting scientific and technological cooperation between Japan and the UK.
Professor Grimes has been Professor of Materials Physics at Imperial College London since 2002, and is currently chief scientific adviser in the Ministry of Defence for nuclear science and technology. During his long and distinguished career in science and technology he has authored over 300 peer-reviewed publications, and has held senior positions at leading science and technology institutions. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society.
Following the East Japan Great Earthquake and Tsunami in 2011, Professor Grimes and fellow members of the UK’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) provided scientific advice to the UK government and people regarding the situation at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station. This advice helped to present a rather calmer view of the situation unfolding in Japan, and clarified the situation for many people around the world, based on scientific evidence. Later, as Chief Scientific Adviser at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Professor Grimes worked with his counterpart in Japan, Professor Teruo Kishi, to promote Japan-UK relations in the field of science and technology, including the publishing of a joint paper regarding science diplomacy in 2018. Professor Grimes has also served as the UK Chair at the UK-Japan Nuclear Dialogue, working to strengthen cooperation between our two countries in civil nuclear activities including nuclear research and development, and safety regulations.
At the ceremony, Ambassador Nagamine congratulated Professor Grimes on his much deserved Commendation, and praised his many achievements in the field of nuclear science and technology. In particular, Ambassador Nagamine expressed his sincere gratitude for the important advice that Professor Grimes and colleagues provided during the extremely critical period following the earthquake and tsunami in 2011. Upon receipt of the Commendation, Professor Grimes expressed his delight at receiving the award and his gratitude to the Ambassador and his colleagues and family who were in attendance. He also talked with great fondness about his time at the British Embassy in Tokyo, and of the importance of UK-Japan science collaboration.
Professor Grimes has been Professor of Materials Physics at Imperial College London since 2002, and is currently chief scientific adviser in the Ministry of Defence for nuclear science and technology. During his long and distinguished career in science and technology he has authored over 300 peer-reviewed publications, and has held senior positions at leading science and technology institutions. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society.Following the East Japan Great Earthquake and Tsunami in 2011, Professor Grimes and fellow members of the UK’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) provided scientific advice to the UK government and people regarding the situation at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station. This advice helped to present a rather calmer view of the situation unfolding in Japan, and clarified the situation for many people around the world, based on scientific evidence. Later, as Chief Scientific Adviser at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Professor Grimes worked with his counterpart in Japan, Professor Teruo Kishi, to promote Japan-UK relations in the field of science and technology, including the publishing of a joint paper regarding science diplomacy in 2018. Professor Grimes has also served as the UK Chair at the UK-Japan Nuclear Dialogue, working to strengthen cooperation between our two countries in civil nuclear activities including nuclear research and development, and safety regulations.
At the ceremony, Ambassador Nagamine congratulated Professor Grimes on his much deserved Commendation, and praised his many achievements in the field of nuclear science and technology. In particular, Ambassador Nagamine expressed his sincere gratitude for the important advice that Professor Grimes and colleagues provided during the extremely critical period following the earthquake and tsunami in 2011. Upon receipt of the Commendation, Professor Grimes expressed his delight at receiving the award and his gratitude to the Ambassador and his colleagues and family who were in attendance. He also talked with great fondness about his time at the British Embassy in Tokyo, and of the importance of UK-Japan science collaboration.
The Embassy of Japan