Cambridge’s ‘First Lady’ of engineering has been presented with the Order of Merit (OM) in a private audience with the Queen, joining the ranks of the most accomplished men and women from politics, science, and the arts.

Professor Dame Ann Dowling becomes only the tenth woman in over 100 years to join the OM, the first being Florence Nightingale in 1907. Previous women recognised with the accolade include Baroness Thatcher, social worker and physician Dame Cicely Saunders, and opera singer Dame Joan Sutherland.

The dynastic order has only 24 living members at a time, and Dowling was inducted alongside Sir James Dyson and Lord Darzi - who are also fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering - and Paul Hamlyn, chair of surgery at Imperial College London.

Founded in 1902 by King Edward VII as personal gift of the sovereign, the order recognises exceptional service towards the advancement of the arts, learning, literature and science.

She is being commended for her exceptional service in advancing the field of mechanical engineering. Her career began with a PhD in aeroacoustics, specifically on the Concorde noise problem.

Since then she has spent almost 40 years researching aeronautics and energy, particularly in reducing aircraft noise and pollutants from combustion.

She was Head of the Department of Engineering between 2009-2014, President of the Royal Academy of Engineering since 2014, and is currently one of the University of Cambridge’s Pro-Vice-Chancellors.

Her Fellowship of the Royal Society nomination noted that “she was the first to understand the mechanics of the jet engine instability known as reheat buzz.” In February 2013, she was listed as one the 100 most powerful women in the United Kingdom by Woman’s Hour on BBC Radio 4.

Dame Ann said: “I was surprised and delighted to be appointed to the Order of Merit. It is a particular pleasure to share the honour of being appointed along with Lord Darzi and Sir James Dyson, who are also distinguished Fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering. The variety of our work, united by the common thread of engineering, demonstrates the vital role of this field in our modern society.

“It has been an immense privilege today to meet Her Majesty The Queen. I feel very humbled to receive such a special honour that has been awarded to so many wonderfully talented people over the years.”