Paul Wellings (Lancaster University)
Encyclopedia
Professor Paul William Wellings (born 1 November 1953) is an English ecologist
and academic administrator
. He is the current Vice-Chancellor of Lancaster University
, Chair of the 1994 Group
of smaller research-intesive universities and is a member of the Board of the Higher Education Funding Council for England
.
Born in Nottingham
, Wellings was educated at Lancaster Royal Grammar School
, King's College London
(BSc Hons), Durham University
(MSc) and the University of East Anglia
(PhD).
In 1981 he moved to Australia
as a research ecologist at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
(CSIRO), becoming Chief of the Entomology Division in 1995. In 1997 he was seconded to the Australian Commonwealth Government Department of Industry, Science and Resources as Head of the Science and Innovation Division and returned to CSIRO in 1999 as Deputy Chief Executive. He has also been of Director of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
(ANSTO), the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
(ACIAR) and the Cumbrian Rural Regenaration Company.
Professor Wellings became Vice-Chancellor of Lancaster University
in 2002. During his appointment, he controversially co-operated with a police prosecution of the "George Fox Six", a group of students and alumni involved in a protest about a conference at the university. Professor Wellings was reproached by several academic and civil liberties groups for his involvement. He is a Board member of Universities UK
and chair of UUK's International and European Policy Committee, and a Board member of Higher Education Funding Council for England
(HEFCE) and Chair of HEFCE's Research Committee.
Professor Wellings will become Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wollongong
as of 1 January 2012, where he will take over from Gerard Sutton.
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
and academic administrator
Academic administration
An academic administration is a branch of university or college employees responsible for the maintenance and supervision of the institution and separate from the faculty or academics, although some personnel may have joint responsibilities...
. He is the current Vice-Chancellor of Lancaster University
Lancaster University
Lancaster University, officially The University of Lancaster, is a leading research-intensive British university in Lancaster, Lancashire, England. The university was established by Royal Charter in 1964 and initially based in St Leonard's Gate until moving to a purpose-built 300 acre campus at...
, Chair of the 1994 Group
1994 Group
The 1994 Group is a coalition of 19 top "smaller research-intensive universities" in the United Kingdom founded in 1994 to defend their interests following the creation of the Russell Group by larger research-intensive universities earlier that year...
of smaller research-intesive universities and is a member of the Board 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...
.
Born in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, Wellings was educated at Lancaster Royal Grammar School
Lancaster Royal Grammar School
Lancaster Royal Grammar School is a voluntary aided, selective grammar school for boys in Lancaster, England. The school has been awarded specialist Technology College and Language College status. Old boys belong to The Old Lancastrians...
, King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
(BSc Hons), Durham University
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
(MSc) and the University of East Anglia
University of East Anglia
The University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...
(PhD).
In 1981 he moved to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
as a research ecologist at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is the national government body for scientific research in Australia...
(CSIRO), becoming Chief of the Entomology Division in 1995. In 1997 he was seconded to the Australian Commonwealth Government Department of Industry, Science and Resources as Head of the Science and Innovation Division and returned to CSIRO in 1999 as Deputy Chief Executive. He has also been of Director of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation is a statutory body of the Australian government, formed in 1987 to replace the Australian Atomic Energy Commission. Its head office and main facilities are in southern outskirts of Sydney at Lucas Heights, in the Sutherland Shire...
(ANSTO), the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research is an Australian Government Statutory Authority that operates within the portfolio of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade...
(ACIAR) and the Cumbrian Rural Regenaration Company.
Professor Wellings became Vice-Chancellor of Lancaster University
Lancaster University
Lancaster University, officially The University of Lancaster, is a leading research-intensive British university in Lancaster, Lancashire, England. The university was established by Royal Charter in 1964 and initially based in St Leonard's Gate until moving to a purpose-built 300 acre campus at...
in 2002. During his appointment, he controversially co-operated with a police prosecution of the "George Fox Six", a group of students and alumni involved in a protest about a conference at the university. Professor Wellings was reproached by several academic and civil liberties groups for his involvement. He is a Board 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 chair of UUK's International and European Policy Committee, and a Board member of 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) and Chair of HEFCE's Research Committee.
Professor Wellings will become Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wollongong
University of Wollongong
The University of Wollongong is a public university located in the coastal city of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, approximately 80 kilometres south of Sydney...
as of 1 January 2012, where he will take over from Gerard Sutton.