Appointments

University of Southampton

Jenny Fleming

An academic who has spent more than 15 years working with police agencies worldwide on a number of interdisciplinary topics has become co-director of a relaunched research unit at the University of Southampton. Jenny Fleming, professor of criminology, who joined from the University of Tasmania in January, brings to the role extensive experience in the field. As co-director of the Institute of Criminal Justice Research, she will aim to "forge some really exciting interdisciplinary opportunities". Professor Fleming graduated with a BA and a PhD from Griffith University in Australia, and has held positions at Griffith, the Australian National University and Tasmania. She said that academics can work with the police to improve the way the latter conduct themselves. "Many of the problems we are seeing now are problems of poor policymaking, not necessarily police venality or ineptitude," she said. "That said, once we get these problems in perspective, what we then have to do is not only find ways to improve police effectiveness ... but also convince citizens that the police are doing a good job."

Monash University

Edwina Cornish

One of Monash University's most eminent academics is to take up a new senior management position at the institution. Edwina Cornish, senior deputy vice-chancellor and deputy vice-chancellor of research, will become provost next month. As provost, Professor Cornish will take responsibility for the management of faculty operations and academic portfolios, allowing Ed Byrne, Monash's president and vice-chancellor, to concentrate on strategic initiatives. She said she felt privileged to have been offered the role. "I'm honoured ... and enthusiastic about the new opportunities it will inevitably bring about for the university," she said. "I'm particularly looking forward to working even more closely with my colleagues throughout the faculties, so many of whom are doing exceptional work." Professor Cornish gained a BSc in biochemistry and a PhD in microbiology from the University of Melbourne. She was previously deputy vice-chancellor (research) and professor of biotechnology at the University of Adelaide, and played a key role in building one of Australia's first biotechnology companies, Florigene.

University of Birmingham

John Colbourne

The University of Birmingham has appointed a world-leading environmental genomics scientist to its School of Biosciences. John Colbourne, professor of genomics, joins from Indiana University Bloomington, where he was genomics director of the Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics. Professor Colbourne will lead a £2 million initiative - funded by Birmingham - into environmental genomics research. "I am excited by this opportunity to help assemble a unique research group that studies genomics to improve the environment," he said. "The investment will help catalyse international cooperation and provide a training ground for early-career scientists in the field." Professor Colbourne obtained a BSc in zoology from the University of Toronto before completing a PhD in evolution at the University of Guelph. He has held a number of positions in North America including posts at the universities of Toronto, Oregon and Dalhousie. He joined Indiana as a postdoctoral fellow before becoming project group leader on its Daphnia genome project. Professor Colbourne said his move to the UK would allow him to further his research interests. "Birmingham is a natural home for this type of multidisciplinary research," he added.

City University London

Ken Grattan

City University London has appointed Ken Grattan as the inaugural dean of its new graduate school, which opens in September. Professor Grattan, professor of measurement and instrumentation at the institution, has been con-joint dean of City's School of Informatics and School of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences for the past four years. His appointment to the graduate school marks the latest stage of his almost 30-year association with the university, which he joined as a "new blood" lecturer in physics in 1983. He was made professor in 1991 and has also been head of the university's department of electrical, electronic and information engineering. Professor Grattan's research interests lie in the field of fibre optic and optical systems for measuring a range of physical and chemical parameters. "I am delighted to be appointed as dean of City Graduate School and to be leading a university-wide initiative in graduate education," he said. "City's ambitious strategic plans call for a major expansion of our research and, with that, the numbers of our graduate students. Our aim through the graduate school is to enhance the experience, training and employment prospects of our research students in a highly competitive world." After graduating from Queen's University Belfast with a first-class degree in physics, he remained at the institution to complete a doctorate in laser physics. He started his academic career as a postdoctoral research fellow at Imperial College London before joining City.

OTHER CHANGES

Leeds College of Music has appointed Jeremy Lascelles as visiting professor. Professor Lascelles, former chief executive officer of Chrysalis Music, said: "I was delighted and honoured to be offered this role. Having spent a little time with staff and students at the college earlier in the year, I am looking forward to developing the relationship further." He will take up his role in October.

Fertility expert Lord Winston and comedian Sandi Toksvig have been awarded honorary degrees by the University of Surrey. Lord Winston and Ms Toksvig are prolific television and radio broadcasters, and have been honoured for their contributions to academic research and the cultural life of the UK, respectively.

Nigel Leask, Regius chair of English language and literature and head of the School of Critical Studies at the University of Glasgow, has been made a fellow of the British Academy. The accolade is one of the highest honours available to academics in the UK's humanities and social sciences.

The University of Hull has appointed three professors to its Faculty of Health and Social Care. Mark Hayter, Kathleen Galvin and Roger Watson have joined as professors of sexual and reproductive health, nursing practice and nursing respectively. Professors Hayter and Watson join from the University of Sheffield, while Professor Galvin joins from Bournemouth University.

Wendy Purcell, vice-chancellor of Plymouth University, has been appointed chair of a new national body, the Council of Healthcare Science in Higher Education. It has been set up to provide a unified "voice" for healthcare science in the academy. Among other things, the council will promote the field's profile and ensure that universities are informed of developments and opportunities in the discipline.