University of Portsmouth lecturer receives MBE

Professor Michael Tipton receives his MBE from the Queen

Professor Mike Tipton – who teaches human and applied physiology – was bestowed the honour by Her Majesty the Queen at a recent special investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle.

It came after he was included on the 2018 New Year’s Honours list for services to research and teaching in extreme environmental physiology and research in drowning prevention.

Reflecting on the experience, Prof Tipton said: ‘The event was a very special day for my family and me.

‘By the time I had been briefed about what to do and what not to do I began to wonder if I could remember the protocol.

‘It all went off without a hitch and there was something particularly special about speaking to the Queen.’

Prof Tipton, who is the UK’s leading cold water survival expert, said he owed his award to those who have backed his efforts throughout his life.

He added: ‘It all seems a bit like a dream now, but I will not forget the day.

‘Nor will I forget the friendship and support that so many colleagues, friends and family have given me over the years.

‘It is undoubtedly this that made the day possible in the first place.’

Prof Tipton is also director of research for the University of Portsmouth’s Department of Sport and Exercise Science – where he leads the Extreme Environments Laboratory.

During his 35 years of work in the fields of thermoregulation and environmental and occupational physiology, he and his colleagues have studied human responses to adverse environments and how people can prepare for them.

As part of this, he has helped UK swimmers prepare for the Beijing Olympics, worked with the RNLI to save lives at sea and helped Hollywood stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Josh Brolin prepare for filming in freezing, high altitude conditions for the 2015 film Everest.