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Reappointments to NERC Council

20 August 2010

David Willetts, Minister for Universities & Science, has announced the reappointment of four independent academic members of the Natural Environment Research Council.

The reappointments are:

• Professor Paul Curran, Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Physical Geography, City University London
• Professor Mike Lockwood, Professor of Space Environment Physics in the Department of Meteorology, University of Reading and an Individual Merit Scientist at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory's Space Science & Technology Department
• Professor Tom Meagher, Professor and Chair of Plant Biology at the University of St Andrews
• Professor Marjorie Wilson, Professor of Igneous Petrogenesis at the institute of Geophysics, School of Earth & Environment and Pro-Dean for Research in the Faculty of Environment at the University of Leeds

They will all serve a second three-year term on the Council, until 31 July 2013.

The Minister also announced that Professor Anne Glover will continue to serve as a government member of the NERC Council for a further three years, in her capacity as Chief Scientific Advisor for Scotland.

NERC is the UK's main agency for funding and managing world-class research, training and knowledge exchange in the environmental sciences. It co-ordinates some of the world's most exciting research projects, tackling major issues such as climate change, environmental influences on human health, the genetic make-up of life on Earth, and much more.

Council members have corporate responsibility for all of NERC's actions and those of its staff. They decide issues such as corporate strategy, key strategic objectives and targets, and major decisions involving the use of financial and other resources.

Ed Wallis, Chairman of NERC, said, "I am delighted to have the continued support on NERC's Council from these five exceptional scientists. It is good to be able to rely on the continuity of knowledge and measured decision making that they provide, particularly during the difficult economic times that we will face over the coming months and years."

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 the appointees' political activity (if any declared) to be made public.

None of the reappointed members have declared any political activity or hold any other Ministerial appointments.

2. An honorarium of £6,740 per year is currently offered to all non-government members of NERC's Council.

3. Biographies for all Council members are available.

4. NERC receives around £400m a year from the government's science budget, which it uses to fund independent research and training in universities and its own research centres.

Press release: 34/10

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