Leading climate and low-carbon energy scientist is new Executive Dean

Professor Chris Fogwill to lead Faculty of Science and Engineering
Professor Chris Fogwill
The new Executive Dean for the University of Plymouth’s Faculty of Science and Engineering will take up the post this summer.
Professor Chris Fogwill is making a return to his home county of Devon, as the latest move in a distinguished career which has seen him work in Australia and Antarctica as well as the UK.
He joins Plymouth from Cranfield University, where he is Pro-Vice Chancellor and Head of the School for Water, Energy and Environment, at present.

We are delighted that Professor Fogwill will be joining us. He brings executive experience from a leading industry-oriented institution, an excellent research pedigree and a strong record of attracting significant research funding. His strengths will be a great benefit to the Faculty and the University.

Judith Petts DBEProfessor Dame Judith Petts DBE
Emeritus Professor

Professor Chris Fogwill outside the Babbage Building
A leader in climate science and applied low-carbon energy solutions, Professor Fogwill has led research and knowledge exchange in major programmes that aim to reduce carbon emissions through innovation in smart local energy systems, renewables and the pioneering production, storage and use of hydrogen.
He has helped develop and drive some of the most innovative low-carbon ‘at scale’ energy demonstration projects in Europe, including partnerships with significant businesses such as Siemens ENGIE, Toyota and Airbus.
The multimillion-pound projects are leading the UK’s ambitions to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and demonstrate how multi-disciplinary research with commercial partners and community stakeholders can make a global impact on energy use, decarbonisation and sustainability.
Meanwhile, as a climate scientist and Earth Systems modeller, Professor Fogwill’s personal research has been instrumental in helping define the links between the Earth’s great ice sheets, climate and global sea level – work that has informed future projections of sea level rise due to anthropogenic warming, reducing uncertainty and helping inform on one of the key socioeconomic impacts of climate change.
He will take up his new role at the University of Plymouth in early July, following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Professor Kevin Jones, who was recently appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor - Research and Innovation .
Professor Fogwill, who was born and raised in Exeter, says:
“It will be great to come back home to the South West – especially to take up this exciting new role at the University of Plymouth.
“What the University has done in recent years has been so exciting, as the driving force for so much positive change – not least in the fields of science and engineering – and my ambition is to build on those excellent foundations to help deliver a sustainable future with colleagues across the Faculties of Health and Arts, Humanities and Business at Plymouth.
“I want to join Plymouth because of that success – the achievements of the University’s remarkable team – and to help build on the extraordinary investment I have seen in new facilities. I can’t wait to get started.”
Professor Chris Fogwill tours Babbage
Professor Chris Fogwill tours the Babbage Building on a recent visit to the University.