On the 17th July 2003, the University of Sussex awarded Professor Chris Rhodes the higher degree of Doctor of Science (DSc).

The Lord Attenborough, Chancellor of the University of Sussex, conferred the degree at the 2003 Congregation for the Conferment of Degrees.

The award is in recognition of Professor Rhodes' researches on the spectroscopy of free radicals. This work has implications in diverse areas of radiation effects, sorption and catalysis by zeolites, toxicology, atmospheric chemistry, and in comprehending and remediating the effects of environmental pollution.