Nick Petford
Encyclopedia
Nick Petford is Vice-Chancellor of the University of Northampton
. Previously he was Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) at Bournemouth University
and before that Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Kingston University
. He has also worked for BP
and on academic and commercial research projects throughout the world, but is best known for his expertise in magmatic systems and volcanology
.
, west London before moving to the Hiltingbury district of Chandlers Ford where he went to The Mountbatten School, a comprehensive, near Southampton
. He is married to Gina Cherrett, Managing Director of Cherett Price Integrated Public Relations, a PR and marketing consultancy. They have three children and live in Winchester
.
at Goldsmiths, University of London (1984–1987). He received a PhD
from the University of Liverpool
in 1991 and a DSc
in 2009. He is a former Royal Society
University Research Fellow and Fellow of Churchill College, Cambridge
. Petford’s contributions to the media on volcanoes include appearances on Sky News
, BBC
TV and Radio, and the Richard and Judy
show. In 2005 the BBC featured the work of his research team in a documentary Krakatoa Revealed. During the 2010 eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano this year he fronted the Channel 4 documentary The Volcano That Stopped Britain.
, American Geophysical Union
and Associate, Chartered Institute of Marketing
, and was Vice President of the Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland (2002–2004). He is a non-executive director of Fluvial Innovations, a university spin-out company that manufactures and sells flood defence barriers.
University of Northampton
The University of Northampton is a university in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England.-History:In 1924, Northampton Technical College was opened at St George's Avenue, site of the current Avenue Campus. A new building for the college was formally opened by the then Duke and Duchess of York in 1932...
. Previously he was Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) at Bournemouth University
Bournemouth University
Bournemouth University is a university in and around the large south coast town of Bournemouth, UK...
and before that Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Kingston University
Kingston University
Kingston University is a public research university located in Kingston upon Thames, southwest London, United Kingdom. It was originally founded in 1899 as Kingston Technical Institute, a polytechnic, and became a university in 1992....
. He has also worked for BP
BP
BP p.l.c. is a global oil and gas company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest energy company and fourth-largest company in the world measured by revenues and one of the six oil and gas "supermajors"...
and on academic and commercial research projects throughout the world, but is best known for his expertise in magmatic systems and volcanology
Volcanology
Volcanology is the study of volcanoes, lava, magma, and related geological, geophysical and geochemical phenomena. The term volcanology is derived from the Latin word vulcan. Vulcan was the ancient Roman god of fire....
.
Personal life
Petford grew up in HillingdonHillingdon
Hillingdon is a suburban area within the London Borough of Hillingdon, situated 14.2 miles west of Charing Cross.Much of Hillingdon is represented as the Hillingdon East ward within the local authority, Hillingdon Council...
, west London before moving to the Hiltingbury district of Chandlers Ford where he went to The Mountbatten School, a comprehensive, near Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
. He is married to Gina Cherrett, Managing Director of Cherett Price Integrated Public Relations, a PR and marketing consultancy. They have three children and live in Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
.
Career
Petford trained initially as a refrigeration engineer and worked in industry before reading GeologyGeology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
at Goldsmiths, University of London (1984–1987). He received a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from the University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
in 1991 and a DSc
DSC
-in academia:* D.Sc., Doctor of Science* Doctor of Surgical Chiropody, superseded in the 1960s by Doctor of Podiatric Medicine* Dalton State College, Georgia* Daytona State College, Florida* Deep Springs College, California* Dixie State College of Utah...
in 2009. He is a former Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
University Research Fellow and Fellow of Churchill College, Cambridge
Churchill College, Cambridge
Churchill College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.In 1958, a Trust was established with Sir Winston Churchill as its Chairman of Trustees, to build and endow a college for 60 fellows and 540 Students as a national and Commonwealth memorial to Winston Churchill; its...
. Petford’s contributions to the media on volcanoes include appearances on Sky News
Sky News
Sky News is a 24-hour British and international satellite television news broadcaster with an emphasis on UK and international news stories.The service places emphasis on rolling news, including the latest breaking news. Sky News also hosts localised versions of the channel in Australia and in New...
, BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
TV and Radio, and the Richard and Judy
Richard and Judy
Richard and Judy is the name informally given to Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan, a married couple who are both British television presenters and columnists. Since their marriage, their television appearances have been largely made as a couple. They are best known for presenting This Morning and...
show. In 2005 the BBC featured the work of his research team in a documentary Krakatoa Revealed. During the 2010 eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano this year he fronted the Channel 4 documentary The Volcano That Stopped Britain.
Other roles
He is a Fellow of the Geological Society of LondonGeological Society of London
The Geological Society of London is a learned society based in the United Kingdom with the aim of "investigating the mineral structure of the Earth"...
, American Geophysical Union
American Geophysical Union
The American Geophysical Union is a nonprofit organization of geophysicists, consisting of over 50,000 members from over 135 countries. AGU's activities are focused on the organization and dissemination of scientific information in the interdisciplinary and international field of geophysics...
and Associate, Chartered Institute of Marketing
Chartered Institute of Marketing
The Chartered Institute of Marketing claims to be the world's largest organisation of professional marketers. It is based in UK with over 40,000 members worldwide. It's headquarters are in Cookham near Maidenhead, CIM offers professional development to marketing practitioners across the world...
, and was Vice President of the Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland (2002–2004). He is a non-executive director of Fluvial Innovations, a university spin-out company that manufactures and sells flood defence barriers.