Professor Andrew J. Watson FRS

(email: andrew.watson@exeter.ac.uk)

Degrees

  • 1975-78 PhD., University of Reading, Department of Engineering and Cybernetics.
  • 1972-75 BSc (Hons 1st) physics, Imperial College, London.

Positions held

  • 2018- Deputy Director, Ocean Thematic Centre of the Integrated Carbon Observing System (ICOS)
  • 2013- Professor, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter
  • 2009- Royal Society Research Professor
  • 2008-2015 Member of the Natural Environment Research Council
  • 2007-2013 Director, Laboratory for Global Marine and Atmospheric Chemistry, UEA
  • 1996-2010 Professor, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich
  • 1988-1995 Plymouth Marine Laboratory. Research scientist/project leader
  • 1981-1988 Marine Biological Association, Plymouth; Research Scientist
  • 1978-1981 Assistant Research Scientist, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA

Visiting scientist

  • 1985, 1987 Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory, Columbia University, New York
  • 2000 Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, (Woods Hole, Mass.)

HONOURS

  • 2003 Fellow of the Royal Society
  • 2004 European Geophysical Union Fridtjof Nansen medal for distinguished research in oceanography
  • 2009 Plymouth Marine Sciences medal
  • 2013 Honorary Fellow Plymouth Marine Laboratory

RESEARCH

FIELDS OF INTEREST: Global biogeochemical cycles, climate, and the interactions between them (in particular, processes influencing atmospheric O2 and CO2). Evolution and present day composition of the atmosphere and oceans. Co-evolution of life and the global environment. Ocean circulation and mixing. Application of tracer techniques to ocean physics and biogeochemical processes.

PUBLICATIONS

About 170 peer-reviewed publications from 1978 to present. A co-authored book published in 2011.

RESEARCH GROUP

Typically 5 PhD students, 4 postdoctoral research scientists, plus technical support. Average new funding about £500k per year research and £500k per year infrastructure over period 1996-2018.

INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES, COMMITTEES ETC, LAST 10 YEARS

Ongoing:

  • Member, European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC), Environment Steering Panel, 2020-
  • Chair, ESA Earth Explorer 11 proposal evaluation committee, September 2020-
  • Deputy director, Ocean thematic centre of the Integrated Carbon Observing system (ICOS), 2017-
  • Member, European Space Agency Advisory Committee on Earth Observation, 2018-
  • Member, programme advisory committee, Southern Ocean Carbon, Climate Observations and modelling (US NSF) 2016-
  • Organizing committee, 8th symposium on gas transfer at water interfaces, May 2021, Plymouth, UK

Previous:

  • Chair, ESA Earth Explorer 10 proposal evaluation committee, March-June 2018
  • Bjerknes Climate Centre Science Advisory Committee, Bergen, Norway, 2001 -2012
  • European Union Carbo-Ocean integrated project, leader and SSC 2005-2010
  • Nansen medal committee, European Geosciences Union, 2010-2012
  • Program evaluation committee, Potsdam Institute for Climate Research (2007)
  • Member, organizing committee, 7th International Carbon Dioxide Conference (Jena, Germany, 2009)

NATIONAL ACTIVITIES, COMMITTEES ETC, LAST 20 YEARS:

  • Member, UK Space Agency Earth Observation Advisory Committee 2018-
  • National Oceanography centre association steering committee 2010-2019
  • NERC council member 2008-2015
  • UK National committee for the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme, 2003-2006.
  • Leverhulme Trust, Philip Leverhulme Prize, Earth Sciences Panel, 2001-7
  • Geological Society of London Earth systems special interest group committee, 2000-2003
  • Royal Society Industrial fellowships committee, 2013-2016.
  • Royal Society Sectional committee 5 (Geosciences) 2006 – (Chair 2008/9)
  • Royal Society Geo-engineering working group (2008/9)
  • Royal Society working group on ocean acidification, (2005/6)
  • Royal Society committees:
  • Travel grants committee 2004-6
  • Research grants committee 2005-8 (Chair 2007/8).

JOURNAL EDITORSHIP LAST 10 YEARS

  • Guest editor, Phil Trans Roy Soc A Special issue on Ocean ventilation and deoxygenation in a warming world, 2017.
  • Guest editor, Phil Trans. Roy. Soc A. Special issue on Feedbacks on climate in the Earth System, 2015.
  • Guest editor, Phil Trans. Roy. Soc A. Special issue on the Southern Ocean, Carbon and Climate, 2013.
  • Associate Editor, Marine Chemistry (1990-2011)