The Cambridge man who leads the team behind one of the biggest commercial advances in modern computing technology has scooped a top award for his work in promoting engineering to the public.

Professor Chris Bishop of Microsoft Research has been awarded the 2011 Rooke Medal by the Royal Academy of Engineering for his “persistent drive” in engaging members of the public in the vital work of engineers and their contribution to society.

At Microsoft Research in Cambridge, Professor Bishop heads a team behind some of the world’s most impressive computer technology, including the full-body motion tracking in Kinect for Xbox 360, which has been recognised by Guinness World Records as the fastest-selling consumer electronics device of all time.

Confirming his dedication to the public promotion of engineering, in 2008 Professor Bishop followed in the footsteps of Michael Faraday, Sir Frank Whittle and Sir David Attenborough by presenting the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, broadcast to a prime-time national television audience of five million people.

Nominating Professor Bishop for the award, his colleague at Microsoft Research, Professor Andrew Blake said: “Chris is an ardent promoter of science and engineering to the public. He is a regular speaker at the major UK science festivals and he continually pursues and tests new ways to promote computer science, through novel demonstrations, interactive websites and video, to name but a few.

“The most prominent example of his public outreach to date has been the Christmas Lectures. To quote the Guardian newspaper, ‘the results were both brilliant and engaging’. I truly believe that Chris’s achievements and his persistent drive prove him to be an outstanding recipient of this award.”

The Cambridge-based 52-year-old has had an illustrious career in engineering and science. He graduated from Oxford with a First Class degree in Physics before achieving a PhD in Theoretical Physics at Edinburgh.

As well as holding leading job roles across the UK, Professor Bishop has had many honours bestowed on him. He holds honorary Doctoral degrees from Oxford Brookes University and the University of East Anglia; he is the Vice President of the Royal Institution of Great Britain; he has a Chair in Computer Science at Edinburgh University; and he holds Fellowships at Darwin College Cambridge, the British Computer Society, the Royal Statistical Society, and the Royal Society of Edinburgh. In 2004 he was elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Previous winners of the Rooke Medal have included 80’s children’s TV star Dr Johnny Ball, former Tomorrow’s World presenter Kate Bellingham, and the man who ‘propped up’ the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Professor John Burland.

Professor Dame Julia Higgins, who chairs the Academy’s Awards panel, said: “The engineering community needs champions such as Professor Bishop to help inspire the next generation of world-leading engineers in the UK.”

Professor Bishop added: “More than ever, we need to engage the public with key engineering issues that affect our society and ensure that youngsters fully appreciate the fascination and the opportunities which careers in engineering can offer.”

As previously reported in Business Weekly, Professor Bishop’s team at Microsoft Research in Cambridge is also on the shortlist for the 2011 MacRobert Award, the UK’s leading prize for innovation in engineering.

The winner of the £50,000 prize will be announced at the Academy’s annual awards dinner in London’s Guildhall on June 6, where Professor Bishop will collect his Rooke Medal.