Professor Tom Oliver appointed Environment Dean

Professor Tom Oliver has been appointed as the University’s new Research Dean for Environment, joining current Dean Professor Rowan Sutton on a job share basis.

An ecology researcher in the School of Biological Sciences, Professor Oliver will begin his new role on 1 December on a 0.5 FTE (full time equivalent) basis, alongside his research role in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. Tom is currently seconded to one day a week to the Government Office for Science, and he will continue with this secondment.

Tom has published widely on environmental risk, biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience, and has sought to advance systems thinking in approaches to environmental challenges. He is author of the critically acclaimed popular science book – The Self Delusion – looking at how humans are connected with nature and each other. He has been seconded to DEFRA and has been advising the UK Government and European Environment Agency on environmental topics.

As Research Dean for Environment, Tom will promote and provide strategic leadership for environmental research, together with Rowan Sutton. Details of how they will share responsibilities of the role will be announced shortly.

Tom will lead the development of the University’s partnership with the Natural History Museum.

Professor Oliver said: “Numerous science-policy initiatives make it clear that to achieve sustainability we need more than incremental progress. Our food, energy and mobility systems must rapidly transform, representing nothing less than a dramatic change in how we live, work and travel.

“I’m excited by this opportunity to work together with colleagues across the University and with our external partners to explore the role of our knowledge systems in helping to deliver this societal transformation.”

Professor Dominik Zaum, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation), said: “I am delighted that Tom has accepted the offer to join the team of Research Deans. His track record as a researcher and experience of interdisciplinary work, and his extensive expertise working with policymakers on environmental issues will make a critical contribution to developing our research across the environment theme.”