James Lovelock

One of these, the electron capture detector (ECD), was important in the development of environmental awareness. It confirmed the ubiquitous distribution of pesticide residues and other halogen bearing chemicals, and subsequently enabled the discovery of the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the natural environment and the discovery of the global distribution of nitrous oxide and of the chlorofluorocarbons. Some of his inventions were adopted by NASA in their programme of planetary exploration. He was awarded by NASA three Certificates of Recognition for these.

He is the originator of the Gaia Hypothesis (now Gaia Theory) and has written three books on the subject.

He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1974 and has received numerous prizes, medals and honorary doctorates. He was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 1990, and a Companion of Honour by Her Majesty the Queen in 2003.

He has been an Honorary Visiting Fellow of Green College, University of Oxford, since 1994.