SEFARI Gateway extends its sincere congratulations to Professor Lorna Dawson on her appointment as Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year Honours List. Professor Dawson is one of the founding members of SEFARI Gateway and our Knowledge Broker for the environment. She works tirelessly to build relationships and exchange knowledge across our networks. We are thrilled that her hard work and expertise have been recognised.

Lorna Dawson

Professor Dawson was recommended for the award by His Majesty the King in recognition of her outstanding contributions to innovation in soil and forensic science. An internationally renowned soil scientist, she has more than 35 years’ experience in researching soil and plant interactions, particularly their application within the criminal justice system. She has advised on over 200 criminal investigations, authored more than 150 expert witness reports in the UK and internationally, and given evidence in more than 25 cases, including the World’s End murders.

Professor Dawson said: “I am so delighted, humbled and deeply honoured to be awarded a Damehood (DBE) in King Charles’s Honours List in recognition of work in innovative soil science and forensic science, fields that play a vital role in environmental stewardship and the pursuit of justice. I am privileged to have brought them together as a powerful tool in assisting the Criminal Justice System. It is an absolute honour to collaborate with organisations in Scotland, the UK and abroad, to apply the discipline of soil science in the context of civil and criminal law in the UK and overseas.”

 

Lorna Dawson

Dame Professor Lorna Dawson talking to George Burgess, Director of Agriculture and Rural Economy for Scottish Government, and Professor Wendy Russel at Scotland's Global Food Security Conference 2025. Photo Credit: Chris Watt.