The James Hutton Institute is very pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Rob Brooker as executive director of science, effective from March 1.
A plant ecologist with more than 25 years of research experience, Professor Brooker joined the Hutton (initially the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute) in 2006 and is currently head of ecological sciences. His work focuses on facilitative (beneficial) plant-plant interactions which has taken him to a huge range of environments, such as montane, arctic, alpine, and semi-arid ecosystems.
He has also conducted studies on Scottish ecosystems, including agricultural landscapes, giving him a keen understanding of the problems surrounding food security and biodiversity, as well as the increasing challenges posed by climate change, and how they can be tackled with fundamental ecological knowledge.
Professor Brooker’s experience has seen him lead important policy-driven research projects, such as reviews into the impacts of climate change on biodiversity for both Defra and the Scottish Government; and he is also a member of the Advisory Group to the Scottish Biodiversity Programme, and Honorary Secretary for the British Ecological Society.
Speaking of his appointment, Professor Brooker said: “I am delighted to be moving into the role of Executive Director of Science at the Hutton. It’s an exciting time and the work we do is in high demand to help deal with the key issues of climate change, biodiversity loss and food security. I look forward to working with my colleagues and all our stakeholders and project partners to deliver excellent science that addresses these major global challenges.”
Deb Roberts, deputy chief executive and director of science at the James Hutton Institute, added: “Rob has been a great asset to the James Hutton Institute throughout his career with us, and we're delighted to be welcoming him into this new and important role in our Executive team. We're sure his expertise and experience will continue to prove invaluable as we move forward and have no doubt that he will prove to be a successful Executive Director of Science."