Miranda Lowe, Principal Curator at the Natural History Museum awarded CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list 2022

Responsible for ground-breaking scientific research through her work with marine specimens over the last 30 years at the Museum, Miranda has also become an instrumental change-maker in the wider museum sector. 

A champion of diversity, Miranda’s work with Museum Detox has campaigned for diversity and inclusion in the museum workforce, collections and audiences. As a member of the Museums Association’s Decolonisation Guidance Working Group, Miranda has shared her knowledge of the impact and legacy of empire in natural science collections and how uncovering hidden histories can allow the telling of these multi-layered stories.

Doug Gurr, Director of the Natural History Museum says “We are thrilled to see Miranda Lowe recognised with a CBE in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list. Alongside her vital scientific work and research on ocean health, Miranda has worked tirelessly as an ambassador to ensure the industry is engaging and reaching underrepresented audiences. A huge congratulations to Miranda”. 

Miranda Lowe CBE, Principal Curator of Crustacea at the Natural History Museum said “I am delighted and humbled to receive such an honour. My sincere thanks to all those who supported and believed in me and the work that I do in the heritage, culture, science, and arts sector and beyond."

This year Miranda was announced as British Science Association Scientific President representing Biological Sciences and helping to shape the annual British Science Festival programme taking place in September. In 2020, Miranda was named in Radio Four Women’s Hour Power List and was also listed in the recently published 100 Great Black Britons, a book honouring the achievements of black British individuals over centuries.  

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Notes for editors

For more information on the Museum’s governance and Trustees please visit the Natural History Museum’s Website: www.nhm.ac.uk/about-us/governance.html

Natural History Media contact: Tel: +44 (0)20 7942 5654/ (0)779 969 0151 Email: press@nhm.ac.uk

About the Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum is both a world-leading science research centre and the most-visited indoor attraction in the UK last year. With a vision of a future in which both people and the planet thrive, it is uniquely positioned to be a powerful champion for balancing humanity’s needs with those of the natural world.

It is custodian of one of the world’s most important scientific collections comprising over 80 million specimens accessed by researchers from all over the world both in person and via over 30 billion digital data downloads to date. The Museum’s 350 scientists are finding solutions to the planetary emergency from biodiversity loss through to the sustainable extraction of natural resources.

The Museum uses its global reach and influence to meet its mission to create advocates for the planet - to inform, inspire and empower everyone to make a difference for nature. We welcome millions of visitors through our doors each year, our website has had 17 million visits in the last year and our touring exhibitions have been seen by around 20 million people in the last 10 years.