Paul Curran (academic)
Encyclopedia
Professor Paul Curran is Vice-Chancellor of City University London. He took up his post in August 2010 having previously served as Vice-Chancellor of Bournemouth University
(2005-10) and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Southampton
(2004-05) where he is currently a Visiting Professor. As a leading member of the senior management team at Southampton, progressing from Head of Geography to Dean of Science, Curran was credited with high-profile leadership as Head of the Winchester School of Art
, part of the University of Southampton
.
A former NASA
research scientist and advisor to the European Space Agency
, Curran's research interests include investigations into global environmental change, in particular the movement of carbon between the atmosphere and forests. His award-winning work in Earth observation, involving the use of satellite sensors to monitor the environment at local to global scales, is widely published and he is the youngest recipient of the Remote Sensing Society’s Gold Medal.
In 2007, Queen Elizabeth II approved the award of the Patron’s Medal of the Royal Geographical Society
to Paul for his ‘international development of geographical science through remote sensing and Earth observation’.
He is a Member of the Natural Environment Research Council
(NERC) and the Chair of its Audit Committee; the Chair of the Universities and Colleges Employers Association
(UCEA) Board; a Member of Universities UK
and its Research Policy and Employability, Business & Industry Policy Committees and President of the Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society. He was the Chair of the Higher Education Funding Council for England
(HEFCE), Higher Education Workforce Steering Group and a Member of the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) Board and its Audit Committee.
Curran received a BSc
from the University of Sheffield
in 1976, an MBA from the University of Southampton
in 1998 and PhD
and DSc
degrees from the University of Bristol
in 1979 and 1991 respectively. He is a Chartered Geographer and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society
, Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society and Chartered Management Institute
. His PhD was followed by academic appointments at the Universities of Reading
and Sheffield
before moving to NASA Ames Research Center
in 1988. He held established Chairs in Physical Geography at the University of Wales, Swansea from 1990 and the University of Southampton
from 1993.
Curran is married, with one daughter. His leisure interests include middle distance running.
Bournemouth University
Bournemouth University is a university in and around the large south coast town of Bournemouth, UK...
(2005-10) and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Southampton
University of Southampton
The University of Southampton is a British public university located in the city of Southampton, England, a member of the Russell Group. The origins of the university can be dated back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 by Henry Robertson Hartley. In 1902, the Institution developed...
(2004-05) where he is currently a Visiting Professor. As a leading member of the senior management team at Southampton, progressing from Head of Geography to Dean of Science, Curran was credited with high-profile leadership as Head of the Winchester School of Art
Winchester School of Art
Winchester School of Art is the art school of the University of Southampton, situated 10 miles north of Southampton in the city of Winchester near the south coast of England.- Overview :...
, part of the University of Southampton
University of Southampton
The University of Southampton is a British public university located in the city of Southampton, England, a member of the Russell Group. The origins of the university can be dated back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 by Henry Robertson Hartley. In 1902, the Institution developed...
.
A former NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
research scientist and advisor to the European Space Agency
European Space Agency
The European Space Agency , established in 1975, is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to the exploration of space, currently with 18 member states...
, Curran's research interests include investigations into global environmental change, in particular the movement of carbon between the atmosphere and forests. His award-winning work in Earth observation, involving the use of satellite sensors to monitor the environment at local to global scales, is widely published and he is the youngest recipient of the Remote Sensing Society’s Gold Medal.
In 2007, Queen Elizabeth II approved the award of the Patron’s Medal of the Royal Geographical Society
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
to Paul for his ‘international development of geographical science through remote sensing and Earth observation’.
He is a Member of the Natural Environment Research Council
Natural Environment Research Council
The Natural Environment Research Council is a British research council that supports research, training and knowledge transfer activities in the environmental sciences.-History:...
(NERC) and the Chair of its Audit Committee; the Chair of the Universities and Colleges Employers Association
Universities and Colleges Employers Association
The Universities and Colleges Employers' Association is the employers' association for universities and colleges of higher education in the United Kingdom...
(UCEA) Board; a Member of Universities UK
Universities UK
Universities UK began life as the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals of the Universities of the United Kingdom in the nineteenth century when there were informal meetings involving Vice-Chancellors of a number of universities and Principals of university colleges...
and its Research Policy and Employability, Business & Industry Policy Committees and President of the Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society. He was the Chair of the Higher Education Funding Council for England
Higher Education Funding Council for England
The Higher Education Funding Council for England is a non-departmental public body of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in the United Kingdom, which has been responsible for the distribution of funding to Universities and Colleges of Higher and Further Education in England since...
(HEFCE), Higher Education Workforce Steering Group and a Member of the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) Board and its Audit Committee.
Curran received a BSc
BSC
BSC is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:Science and technology* Bachelor of Science , an undergraduate degree* Base Station Controller, part of a mobile phone network; see: Base Station subsystem...
from the University of Sheffield
University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is a research university based in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the original 'red brick' universities and is a member of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities...
in 1976, an MBA from the University of Southampton
University of Southampton
The University of Southampton is a British public university located in the city of Southampton, England, a member of the Russell Group. The origins of the university can be dated back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 by Henry Robertson Hartley. In 1902, the Institution developed...
in 1998 and 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...
and 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...
degrees from the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
in 1979 and 1991 respectively. He is a Chartered Geographer and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
, Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society and Chartered Management Institute
Chartered Management Institute
The Chartered Management Institute is a professional institution for managers, based in the United Kingdom.In addition to supporting its members, the organisation encourages management development, carries out research, produces a wide variety of publications on management interests, and publishes...
. His PhD was followed by academic appointments at the Universities of Reading
University of Reading
The University of Reading is a university in the English town of Reading, Berkshire. The University was established in 1892 as University College, Reading and received its Royal Charter in 1926. It is based on several campuses in, and around, the town of Reading.The University has a long tradition...
and Sheffield
University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is a research university based in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the original 'red brick' universities and is a member of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities...
before moving to NASA Ames Research Center
NASA Ames Research Center
The Ames Research Center , is one of the United States of America's National Aeronautics and Space Administration 10 major field centers.The centre is located in Moffett Field in California's Silicon Valley, near the high-tech companies, entrepreneurial ventures, universities, and other...
in 1988. He held established Chairs in Physical Geography at the University of Wales, Swansea from 1990 and the University of Southampton
University of Southampton
The University of Southampton is a British public university located in the city of Southampton, England, a member of the Russell Group. The origins of the university can be dated back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 by Henry Robertson Hartley. In 1902, the Institution developed...
from 1993.
Curran is married, with one daughter. His leisure interests include middle distance running.