British Academy: The UK's National Academy for the Humanities and Social Sciences
Sir Alan Wilson, FBA appointed chair of the AHRC
The British Academy congratulates Sir Alan Wilson FBA, on his appointment as the new Chair of the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). His appointment was announced on 11 December by the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, John Denham.
Sir Alan was elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 1994 and is Professor of Urban and Regional Systems at University College London. He said: “I am very honoured to have been offered this post and am delighted to accept. I believe that research in the arts and humanities underpins the quality of life in the UK and I am pleased to be able to contribute to such endeavours.”
Robin Jackson, Chief Executive and Secretary of the British Academy, said: "Sir Alan is a most distinguished appointment as chair of AHRC. He will bring a wealth of experience to the position."
NOTES TO EDITORS
Published:
14 December 2007
- For media enquires please contact, Michael Reade, External Relations: m.reade@britac.ac.uk / 020 7969 5263.
- The British Academy is the National Academy for the Humanities and Social Sciences.
- Established by Royal Charter in 1902, the British Academy is an independent learned society promoting the humanities and social sciences. It is composed of Fellows elected in recognition of their distinction as scholars in the humanities and social sciences. The Academy distributes funding to support high quality research.
- More information about the Academy may be found at: http://www.britac.ac.uk
- More information about AHRC can be found at http://www.ahrc.ac.uk
- Biographical details for Sir Alan Wilson:
Sir Alan Wilson graduated in Mathematics from Corpus Christi College Cambridge in 1960. He woked at the Rutherford Laboratory at Harwell on computational bubble chamber physics, moving in 1964 to the University of Oxford's Institute of Economics and Statistics, and in 1966 to London as Head of the Mathematical Advisory Unit at the Ministry of Transport. He was appointed Professor of Urban and Regional Geography at the University of Leeds 1970. Sir Alan established an international reputation for his work on the mathematical analysis of geographical systems. In 1991 he was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University. In 2004 he became Director General for Higher Education for the Government. He is now Professor of Urban and Regional Systems at University College London. Sir Alan was elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 1994, and was knighted in 2001. In 2004, he was awarded the Laureat d'Honneur by the International Geographical Union and the 2004 Prize in Regional Science by the European Regional Science Association. In the same year he was also elected an Honorary Fellow of Corpus Christi College. In May 2006 Sir Alan was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.