Shaping the future of our environment

Professor Steve Ormerod from the School of Biosciences has been named chair of the newly established Natural Environment Research Council Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH) Science Development Group to provide advice on the centre's new science strategy and science delivery

Professor Ormerod has published over 250 scientific papers on freshwater ecosystems, including river birds such as the dipper, grey wagtail and kingfisher. He is also currently Chairman of Europe's largest wildlife conservation charity, the RSPB.

Dr Hefin Jones from the School of Biosciences has also been made a member of the new Science Development Group committee; his research interests encompass population and community ecology, climate change and biodiversity within terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems.

The Science Development Group will advise on development and integration of CEH Science Areas, provide expertise on Science Areas, advising on recent developments and making a critical assessment of current and future priorities as well as report to the CEH Advisory Committee to consider the impact of their activities and outputs.

Professor Mark Bailey, Director of CEH, said: "I'm delighted that Steve Ormerod has agreed to chair the Science Development Group. This group will be invaluable to the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology in providing strategic advice on our science and in helping to maintain the science excellence of our research and delivery of National Capability for the UK Terrestrial and Freshwater Sector."

Professor Steve Ormerod: "I'm hugely flattered to be asked by the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology to take on this key advisory role, and to be supported by such a wealth of experience within the group.  As a major European leader in ecological and hydrological science, I expect the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology to occupy a pivotal position in the years ahead – particularly where their world-class expertise in water, pollution, biodiversity and ecosystem services is applied alone and in partnership to the complex environmental challenges we face."

The Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH) is a public-sector research centre - part of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) - which delivers independent research, survey, training and knowledge transfer in the environmental sciences to advance knowledge of planet Earth as a complex, interacting system.