Professor Garik Markarian, from the School of Computing and Communications, has received an honorary doctorate from the National Academy of Telecommunications, one of the major European research centres in the field of communications engineering.

Professor Markarian was given the honour in recognition of his high profile role in helping with a major communications project in the wake of the Chernobyl Disaster, specifically his research in the field of wireless communications.

On accepting the honorary doctorate, Professor Markarian said: “It’s an honour to receive this distinction for my research into practically developing a wireless broadband network in Chernobyl.

“I graduated from this institution nearly 40 years ago and it’s been a privilege to support the centre in a number of ways since then.”

His company, Rinicom Limited, a communications technology company with close links to Lancaster University, has established a PhD studentship to support young researchers in the area of wireless communications.