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NERC appoints a new member

8 September 2006

Lord Sainsbury, Minister for Science & Innovation, has appointed a new council member to the Natural Environment Research Council.

Professor Paul Curran is Vice chancellor and professor of physical geography, Bournemouth University and visiting professor of physical geography, University of Southampton.

Professor Curran studied at the Universities of Sheffield, Southampton and Bristol; held academic appointments at the universities of Reading, Sheffield and Swansea and was a senior research associate with NASA in the 1980s.

Prior to his appointment with Bournemouth University, he was head of the geography department (1995-9), dean of science (2000-3), head of Winchester School of Art (2003-4) and deputy vice-chancellor (2004-5) at the University of Southampton.

He has served on several UK committees, including: the NERC terrestrial life sciences committee, RAE 2001 panel for geography and the Universities UK business and industry strategy group.

He has also served on many international committees, including eight NASA grant boards and ten ESA science advisory and funding boards. He is currently an active member of two ESA committees and an International Society for Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry committee.

His research is in the field of environmental Earth observation from satellite and airborne sensors.

He has not held any other public appointments, or undertaken any political activities, within the past five years.

The period of the appointment is from 8 August 2006 - 31 July 2010.

Sir Rob Margetts, NERC's chairman, said "I am delighted that Paul has agreed to join us. He has been closely involved with NERC over the years so is well aware of how we work and the many opportunities and challenges ahead. His personal and professional values, and the knowledge he has gained at senior governance and extensive management and leadership experience will be of immense benefit to our future activities."

Further information

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

Notes

1. Appointments to NERC are made in accordance with the requirements of the Code of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity (if any declared) to be made public.

2. An honorarium of £6,120 per year is currently paid to all members of NERC's Council. (£8,160 per annum for those members who chair NERC research boards).

3. NERC is one of the UK's research councils. It uses a budget of about £370 million a year to fund and carry out impartial scientific research in the sciences of the environment. NERC trains the next generation of independent environmental scientists. It is addressing some of the key questions facing mankind such as global warming, renewable energy and sustainable economic development.

Press release: 53/06

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