Honorary Fellowship of the Society for the Environment awarded to Professor James Longhurst CEnv

News
12/12/2017


Professor James Longhurst, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Environment and Sustainability and a Chartered Environmentalist from the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol), has joined an exclusive group of environmental professionals and advocates as an Honorary Fellow of the Society for the Environment (HonFSE).


Professor Longhurst was presented with an Honorary Fellowship of the Society for the Environment by Professor Will Pope HonFSE CEnv, Chair of the Society on Monday 4 December. This is in recognition of the exceptional contributions has made as a publicly recognised champion for the environment, and a person who has rendered outstanding service to sustainability and to the Society.


HonFSEs are advocates of their field and role models for their peers. The work of a HonFSE can come in many forms – education, innovation, science, technology, policy and leadership, to name only a selection.


Professor Longhurst has been a national leader in sustainability initiatives in the UK, across a wide range of organisations, for many years. As a Chartered Environmentalist and a Chartered Scientist, he maintains his primary academic research interest in air quality and carbon management. He has published more than 250 academic papers, book chapters and edited books, as well as regularly contributing to international conferences.


He has been a member of the Institution of Environmental Science’s Council since 1998, serving as Chair of Council from 2002 – 2006. He was subsequently elected as Vice President upon his retirement as Chair. In addition, he is a former Society for the Environment board member, a former Chair of the Committee of Heads of Environmental Sciences, an inaugural Fellow of the Environmental Association of Universities and Colleges (EAUC), and the winner of the EAUC 2016 UK and Ireland Green Gown Award, for sustainability leadership in academic realms.


Professor Longhurst said,

“I am very grateful to the Society for the Environment for awarding me an Honorary Fellowship in recognition of my contribution to environmental science. Whilst this is a personal honour I must acknowledge the many colleagues I have worked with over the course of my career. We advance scientific knowledge through collaborative research and I have had the pleasure of working with many exceptionally talented colleagues. This Honorary Fellowship is theirs as well as mine.”


Prior to the presentation, Will Pope commented,

“In order for positive, sustained environmental change to occur, we need experts, role models and professionals such as Jim. His continued achievements with UWE and other organisations to enhance our understanding of the environment and lead on impactful projects make Jim well deserving of an Honorary Fellowship of the Society.”


Chair of the Society’s HonFSE Panel, Professor Carolyn Roberts CEnv, added,

“Jim has played a major role in promoting the cause of sustainability in UWE, in other UK universities through his membership of various Higher Education leadership groups, in Bristol as part of the European Green Capital developments, and nationally. His Honorary Fellowship is very well deserved.”


Only 70 others have been recognised by receiving this prestigious honour from the Society.