Chair of Durham Earth Sciences Advisory Board

Starting December 2022, I took on the role of chair of the Durham University Earth Sciences Department Advisory Board. Richard Swarbrick retired from the position after doing a brilliant job for many years, and with some gentle coercion from the Head of Department, Mark Allen, I took over the reins.

The Advisory Board’s job is to provide input to the department on key strategic issues. Its membership includes senior representatives from the Energy Industry, Mining, Civil Engineering, Government and more. At my first chaired meeting in December 2022, we focused on several topics needing urgent attention, including how to attract more foreign geology students, the use of industry apprenticeships in earth science degree qualification, and ways of improving Durham’s standing at the next UK Research Excellence Framework (REF) exercise.

Unlike many of the board members, I’m not a Durham alumnus – but I regard it as my adoptive university after a long history of research co-operation, not to mention the honours they have kindly bestowed on me. I’m going to give this my best shot for a few years, and I hope we can make some real progress.