ETCIC Director Professor Lynne Frostick has been crowned Green Champion at the inaugural Yorkshire Post Environment Awards.

Professor Frostick, of the University's Geography Department, received the award at a glittering ceremony held in Leeds on 7th May 2009.

The event was hosted by television presenter Julia Bradbury and the guest speaker was Climate Change Secretary, Ed Miliband.

Doncaster North MP, Mr Miliband, told the Yorkshire Post that the high standard of nominations proved that "human beings have extraordinary potential to solve the most extraordinary problems".

Professor Frostick joined the University 13 years ago and specialises in two of the biggest environmental issues of the 21st century - water and waste. She said she was shocked to be given the Green Champion award, but described it as "a privilege".

The diverse winners also included Yorkshire Bank, who were named Best Environmental Business, a project to make Todmorden self-sufficient by 2018, and Yorkshire Horticultural Supplies for their peat-free compost that does not harm the environment.

Yorkshire Post editor Peter Charlton said, "I'm very excited by this new event because the Yorkshire Post has a proud history of environmental campaigning.

"I hope it will become an annual fixture in the region's calendar, and I have been absolutely delighted by the response of companies and individuals who have submitted entries. As with our business and local food awards, those entries have been of such a uniformly high standard that judging has been both a joy and a headache. What has become apparent is how seriously business in our region takes environmental issues."

Professor Frostick said, "I am honoured to be given this award. There are many people in the Yorkshire region committed to the environment, so to be singled out like this is a real surprise, but something of which I am very proud. Now the challenge is living up to the title of Green Champion."

Earlier this year, Professor Frostick was named Woman of Outstanding Achievement 2009. She was chosen for the award for her leadership and inspiration to others by the UK Resource Centre (UKRC) for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology.

In 2004, she was appointed as Director of the Hull Environment Research Institute, working on projects including a research flume at The Deep submarium.

Professor Frostick has also worked extensively on erosion and flooding, both of which have been at the top of the news agenda in recent years, and Professor Frostick has given expert comment on the issues to both the media and Parliament.