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Head of National Marine Facilities announced

18 August 2005

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Commodore David Lewis CBE, RN as Head of National Marine Facilities at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton (NOCS).

NOCS is a joint Centre of NERC and the University of Southampton. David takes up his post, which is a NERC appointment, on 26 September 2005.

The Division of National Marine Facilities within NOCS is being created as part of the implementation of a refocused vision for the Centre, and David will play a key role in establishing the new organisational arrangements. The Division brings together under a common overarching framework those marine facilities and related functions within NOCS that are to be delivered for NERC in an impartial way for the benefit of the whole UK marine science community as part of the Centre's national remit. The Division will include the UK Ocean Research Services (UKORS), the National Marine Equipment Pool (NMEP), the NERC Research Ship Unit (RSU), the British Ocean Sediment Core Research Facility (BOSCORF) and a number of other national coordination functions within the Centre.

David has a strong background in marine affairs ideal to provide the required strategic leadership in this challenging new role. David served in the Royal Navy where he undertook a variety of command and strategic executive roles. A graduate of the Royal College of Defence Studies, he was head of the largest division at the UK's principal operational headquarters where he managed a team drawn from the armed services, the civil service and specialist technicians from USA. He was Director of Training at Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth and served on the policy staff in the Ministry of Defence working closely with the scientific civil service on future concepts and operational analysis. His final appointment at sea was in command of HMS Beaver and the ships of the First Frigate Squadron. In civilian life since 2002, David has been serving as Emergency Planning Manager for the Local Authorities in Somerset.

David Lewis said, "With the oceans playing a crucial role in global-scale problems such as climate change, changing ecosystems and the search for sustainable resources, the marine sciences are crucial for the wellbeing of the UK. Oceanography is a subject in which our science community excels internationally. The ability of UK scientists to do their work at sea is underpinned by the major marine facilities at Southampton and I am excited by the opportunity to contribute to the support of this hugely important scientific endeavour."

Centre Director, Professor Ed Hill, said, "I am absolutely delighted that David is joining the team. The major facilities managed by this Centre on behalf of NERC for the whole science community are a pivotal part of our wider national remit. David brings an enormous wealth of experience to the role. I am sure his leadership is going to make a key contribution to getting the very best out of the very large investments NERC is making in marine sciences."

Further information

NERC Press Office
Natural Environment Research Council
Polaris House, North Star Avenue
Swindon, SN2 1EU
Tel: 01793 411561
Mob: 07917 557215

Kim Marshall-Brown
Press Officer, NOCS
Tel: 023 8059 6170

Notes

1. The National Oceanography Centre, Southampton is a joint centre of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the University of Southampton.

2. The Centre the national focus for oceanography in the UK with a remit to achieve scientific excellence as one of the world's top five oceanographic research institutions.

3. It delivers a diverse mission, spanning that of both NERC and the University, which ranges from managing the national research vessel fleet and other major facilities, to a programme of strategic research for NERC as well as academic research and education in support of the University's mission.

4. The Centre's mission also encompasses major ocean technology development; sustaining long-term observations; managing international science programmes; promoting enterprise, knowledge transfer; providing advice to Government, business and charities, and the engagement between science and society.

5. The Centre is also specifically charged with working with the wider science community, in an inclusive way, to provide strategic coordination and facilitation for the whole of the UK marine and related earth sciences community. The national remit also entails supporting major marine facilities (e.g. sea going infrastructure and technical capability) for the whole science community.

6. As part of the re-focussed vision for the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) has made a senior appointment (Head of National Marine Facilities) to provide strategic leadership and management for major marine facilities and services based at the Centre.

7. The Head of National Marine Facilities:

• will lead a new Division of National Marine Facilities to be created as part of a reorganisation of NOCS. Existing groups that are to be part of NMF include over 100 staff employed by both NERC and the University of Southampton;
• will play a key role in constituting and developing the new division which will include UK Ocean Research Services (UK), the National Marine Equipment Pool (NMEP); the British Ocean Sediment Core Research Facility (BOSCORF) and a number of other national coordination functions within the Centre. The NERC Research Ship Unit will also come under the management of the Division in due course. There may be scope for other Southampton-based groups to join the Division after further consultation.
• will be a member of the Executive Board of NOC, Southampton with shared corporate responsibility for the management of the whole Centre;
• will ensure quality, timely, efficient, cost-effective and impartial delivery of marine sciences support services and facilities in support of NERC strategic priorities. The services incorporated in the Division are specifically those available to the whole NERC marine and earth sciences community, and that are available to Southampton-based researchers on the same basis as for the wider community;
• will engage users and stakeholders of facilities in their strategic development;

8. Whilst the Head of National Marine Facilities is directly responsible only for services based at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, he will, in respect of marine facilities and services, be expected to assist the Director of NOCS in his wider responsibilities for facilitating strategic coordination and planning for all UK marine science.

Press release: 40/05