THE UNIVERSITY of Aberdeen has appointed four leading academics to drive forward its ambition to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing society today, through innovative research and education.
They have been appointed as Directors of the University’s new Interdisciplinary Centres – hubs designed to encourage and enable academics to work across scientific boundaries to provide solutions to complex problems facing the key research challenges of our time.
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Five interdisciplinary centres are being established which will focus on areas identified within the University’s Aberdeen 2040 strategy, including Energy Transition; Health, Nutrition and Wellbeing; Social Inclusion and Cultural Diversity; Data and Artificial Intelligence; and Environment and Biodiversity.
The new Directors, who start their new roles in early 2022, are:
- John Underhill – Director, Interdisciplinary Centre for Energy Transition
- Jennie Macdiarmid – Director, Interdisciplinary Centre for Health, Nutrition and Wellbeing
- Georgios Leontidis – Director, Interdisciplinary Centre for Data and Artificial Intelligence
- Eleonora (Ele) Belfiore – Director, Interdisciplinary Centre for Social Inclusion and Cultural Diversity
A fifth Director, to lead on Environment and Biodiversity, is expected to be appointed shortly.
Marion Campbell, Vice-Principal for Research at the University of Aberdeen, said: “These appointments represent a significant step forward in terms of our ambitions to deliver on the aims of our Aberdeen 2040 strategy.
“I am confident the new Directors will play a pivotal role in positioning the University as a global leader across the interdisciplinary challenge areas, while also providing academic leadership across the University.”
Professor George Boyne, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, added: “the purpose of our university is grounded in the service of others, and conducting research and education with impact is at the core of our mission.
“All our new Directors are recognised leaders in their fields, who have been appointed on the basis of their vision, leadership, drive and academic expertise, as well as their ability to influence and work effectively across the University and externally at all levels.
“These attributes are essential in taking forward our ambitions to tackle what our Aberdeen 2040 strategy identifies as the five interdisciplinary challenges of our time.
“By working across boundaries and sharing ideas and approaches, we have the expertise to face these particular challenges for the benefit of our region, and wider society. I look forward to working with our new Directors and the entire University community to deliver on our ambitions.”
