David King (scientist)
Encyclopedia
Sir David Anthony King FRS (born August 12, 1939) is the Director of the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment
at the University of Oxford
, Director of Research in Physical Chemistry
at the University of Cambridge
, Director of the Collegio Carlo Alberto
, Chancellor of the University of Liverpool
http://www.liv.ac.uk/news/press_releases/2009/11/sir-david-king-appointed-liverpool-chancellor.htm and a senior scientific adviser to UBS
http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKL114218920080411. He was the Chief Scientific Adviser to H.M.
Government under both Tony Blair
and Gordon Brown
and Head of the Government Office for Science
from October 2000 to 31 December 2007. In that time, he raised the profile of the need for governments to act on climate change and was instrumental in creating the new £1 billion Energy Technologies Institute. In 2008 he co-authored “The Hot Topic” (Bloomsbury 2008) on this subject. He is a distinguished supporter of the British Humanist Association
http://www.humanism.org.uk/about/people/distinguished-supporters.
in 1939, and after an early career at the University of Witwatersrand, Imperial College and the University of East Anglia
, King became the Brunner Professor of Physical Chemistry at the University of Liverpool
in 1974. He was a member of the National Executive, Association of University Teachers (the academics trades union), 1970-78, and president 1976-77. In 1988 he was appointed 1920 Professor of Physical Chemistry at the University of Cambridge
and subsequently became Master of Downing College
(1995–2000) and Head of the University Chemistry Department (1993–2000). During this time, King, together with Gabor Somorjai
and Gerhard Ertl
, shaped the discipline of surface science
and helped to explain the underlying principles of heterogeneous catalysis
. However, the 2007 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
was awarded to Ertl
alone http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/science/sciencenews/3310155/Nobel-prize-for-superficial-work.html.
King has published over 500 papers on his research in chemical physics and on science and policy, and has received numerous prizes, Fellowships and Honorary Degrees. King was knighted
in 2003 and in 2009 made a Chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur
. He continues as Director of Research in the Department of Chemistry at Cambridge University.
and initiated several foresight studies. As Director of the Government’s Foresight Programme, he created an in-depth horizon scanning process which advised government on a wide range of long term issues, from flooding to obesity. He also chaired the government’s Global Science and Innovation Forum from its inception. King advised the government on issues including: The foot-and-mouth disease epidemic 2001; post 9/11 risks to the UK; GM foods
; energy provision; and innovation and wealth creation; and he was heavily involved in the Government’s Science and Innovation Strategy 2004-2014. He suggested that scientists should honour a Hippocratic Oath for Scientists
.
In his role of scientific advisor to the UK government King was outspoken on the subject of climate change, saying "I see climate change as the greatest challenges facing Britain and the World in the 21st century" http://www.coolkidsforacoolclimate.com/Climate%20Change%20News/David%20King.htm
and "climate change is the most severe problem we are facing today - more serious even than the threat of terrorism" http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/03/08/ngag08.xml http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3381425.stm.
He strongly supports the work of the IPCC
, saying in 2004 that the 2001 synthesis report
is the best current statement on the state of play of the science of climate change, and that really does represent 1,000 scientists http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmselect/cmenvaud/490/4033005.htm
King has criticised the Bush administration for what he sees as its failures in climate change policy, saying it is: failing to take up the challenge of global warming http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3381425.stm.
King told The Independent newspaper in February 2007 "he agreed that organic food was no safer than chemically-treated food" and openly supported a study by the Manchester Business School that implicated organic farming practices in unfavourable CO2 comparisons with conventional chemical farming.
In an article published in The Guardian on February 13, 2009, King is quoted as saying that 'Future historians might look back on our particular recent past and see the Iraq war as the first of the conflicts of this kind - the first of the resource wars' and that this was 'certainly the view' (that the invasion was motivated by a desire to secure energy supplies) he held at the time of the invasion, along with 'quite a few people in government' http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/feb/13/resource-wars-david-king.
, arguing that it is a safe, technically feasible solution that can help to reduce emissions from the utilities sector now, while the development of alternative low-carbon solutions is incentivised http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2005/dec/16/greenpolitics.environment.
In the transport sector, King has warned Governments that conventional oil resources are more scarce than they believe and that peak oil might approach in 5 years.
Moreover, he has criticised first generation biofuels due to the effect on food prices and subsequent effect on the developing world. He strongly supports second generation biofuels
, however, which are manufactured from inedible biomass such as corn stover, wood chips or straw. These biofuels are not made from food sources (see food vs fuel
).
King appears in the film The Age of Stupid
, which was released in February 2009, talking about Hurricane Katrina
.
, Paul Kagame
, the President of Rwanda, and President Mohamed Nasheed
of the Maldives were amongst many giving rousing speeches. The event was staged to explore ways of reducing the dependence of many of the world’s economies on high-carbon fuels and promote low-carbon development in poor countries. More than 200 of the world’s leading climate experts attended with many showing that renewable technologies are available and that industry is ready to switch. Both Al Gore
and Sir David chastised the governments of rich nations for failing to implement policies to facilitate rapid low-carbon development.
Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment
The Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment is an interdisciplinary department of the University of Oxford that brings together leaders from academia, government, and enterprise to address global environmental challenges...
at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, Director of Research in Physical Chemistry
Physical chemistry
Physical chemistry is the study of macroscopic, atomic, subatomic, and particulate phenomena in chemical systems in terms of physical laws and concepts...
at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, Director of the Collegio Carlo Alberto
Collegio Carlo Alberto
Collegio Carlo Alberto is one of the "colleges" of the University of Turin, located in the town of Moncalieri, northern Italy, in the province of Turin. The Collegio can refer to the physical structure, a masterpiece of neoclassical architecture in the town of Moncalieri, Italy or to the schools...
, Chancellor of the University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
http://www.liv.ac.uk/news/press_releases/2009/11/sir-david-king-appointed-liverpool-chancellor.htm and a senior scientific adviser to UBS
UBS AG
UBS AG is a Swiss global financial services company headquartered in Basel and Zürich, Switzerland, which provides investment banking, asset management, and wealth management services for private, corporate, and institutional clients worldwide, as well as retail clients in Switzerland...
http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKL114218920080411. He was the Chief Scientific Adviser to H.M.
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
Government under both Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
and Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
and Head of the Government Office for Science
Government Office for Science
The Government Office for Science is part of the British government. This organisation exists to ensure that Government policy and decision-making is underpinned by robust scientific evidence and long-term thinking...
from October 2000 to 31 December 2007. In that time, he raised the profile of the need for governments to act on climate change and was instrumental in creating the new £1 billion Energy Technologies Institute. In 2008 he co-authored “The Hot Topic” (Bloomsbury 2008) on this subject. He is a distinguished supporter of the British Humanist Association
British Humanist Association
The British Humanist Association is an organisation of the United Kingdom which promotes Humanism and represents "people who seek to live good lives without religious or superstitious beliefs." The BHA is committed to secularism, human rights, democracy, egalitarianism and mutual respect...
http://www.humanism.org.uk/about/people/distinguished-supporters.
Academic career
He was born in South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in 1939, and after an early career at the University of Witwatersrand, Imperial College and the University of East Anglia
University of East Anglia
The University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...
, King became the Brunner Professor of Physical Chemistry at the University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
in 1974. He was a member of the National Executive, Association of University Teachers (the academics trades union), 1970-78, and president 1976-77. In 1988 he was appointed 1920 Professor of Physical Chemistry at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
and subsequently became Master of Downing College
Downing College, Cambridge
Downing College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was founded in 1800 and currently has around 650 students.- History :...
(1995–2000) and Head of the University Chemistry Department (1993–2000). During this time, King, together with Gabor Somorjai
Gabor A. Somorjai
Gabor A. Somorjai is currently a professor at the University of California, Berkeley and is a leading researcher in the field of surface chemistry and catalysis...
and Gerhard Ertl
Gerhard Ertl
Gerhard Ertl is a German physicist and a Professor emeritus at the Department of Physical Chemistry, Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft in Berlin, Germany...
, shaped the discipline of surface science
Surface science
Surface science is the study of physical and chemical phenomena that occur at the interface of two phases, including solid–liquid interfaces, solid–gas interfaces, solid–vacuum interfaces, and liquid-gas interfaces. It includes the fields of surface chemistry and surface physics. Some related...
and helped to explain the underlying principles of heterogeneous catalysis
Heterogeneous catalysis
In chemistry, heterogeneous catalysis refers to the form of catalysis where the phase of the catalyst differs from that of the reactants. Phase here refers not only to solid, liquid, vs gas, but also immiscible liquids, e.g. oil and water. The great majority of practical heterogeneous catalysts...
. However, the 2007 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Nobel Prize in Chemistry
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry is awarded annually by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences to scientists in the various fields of chemistry. It is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the will of Alfred Nobel in 1895, awarded for outstanding contributions in chemistry, physics, literature,...
was awarded to Ertl
Gerhard Ertl
Gerhard Ertl is a German physicist and a Professor emeritus at the Department of Physical Chemistry, Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft in Berlin, Germany...
alone http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/science/sciencenews/3310155/Nobel-prize-for-superficial-work.html.
King has published over 500 papers on his research in chemical physics and on science and policy, and has received numerous prizes, Fellowships and Honorary Degrees. King was knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in 2003 and in 2009 made a Chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
. He continues as Director of Research in the Department of Chemistry at Cambridge University.
Government
During his tenure as Chief Scientific Adviser has raised public awareness for climate changeClimate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
and initiated several foresight studies. As Director of the Government’s Foresight Programme, he created an in-depth horizon scanning process which advised government on a wide range of long term issues, from flooding to obesity. He also chaired the government’s Global Science and Innovation Forum from its inception. King advised the government on issues including: The foot-and-mouth disease epidemic 2001; post 9/11 risks to the UK; GM foods
Genetically modified food
Genetically modified foods are foods derived from genetically modified organisms . Genetically modified organisms have had specific changes introduced into their DNA by genetic engineering techniques...
; energy provision; and innovation and wealth creation; and he was heavily involved in the Government’s Science and Innovation Strategy 2004-2014. He suggested that scientists should honour a Hippocratic Oath for Scientists
Hippocratic Oath for scientists
The Hippocratic Oath for scientists has been suggested as an ethical code of practice for scientists that is similar to the Hippocratic Oath used in the medical profession...
.
In his role of scientific advisor to the UK government King was outspoken on the subject of climate change, saying "I see climate change as the greatest challenges facing Britain and the World in the 21st century" http://www.coolkidsforacoolclimate.com/Climate%20Change%20News/David%20King.htm
and "climate change is the most severe problem we are facing today - more serious even than the threat of terrorism" http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/03/08/ngag08.xml http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3381425.stm.
He strongly supports the work of the IPCC
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is a scientific intergovernmental body which provides comprehensive assessments of current scientific, technical and socio-economic information worldwide about the risk of climate change caused by human activity, its potential environmental and...
, saying in 2004 that the 2001 synthesis report
IPCC Third Assessment Report
The IPCC Third Assessment Report, Climate Change 2001, is an assessment of available scientific and socio-economic information on climate change by the IPCC. The IPCC was established in 1988 by the United Nations Environment Programme and the UN's World Meteorological Organization ".....
is the best current statement on the state of play of the science of climate change, and that really does represent 1,000 scientists http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmselect/cmenvaud/490/4033005.htm
King has criticised the Bush administration for what he sees as its failures in climate change policy, saying it is: failing to take up the challenge of global warming http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3381425.stm.
In an article published in The Guardian on February 13, 2009, King is quoted as saying that 'Future historians might look back on our particular recent past and see the Iraq war as the first of the conflicts of this kind - the first of the resource wars' and that this was 'certainly the view' (that the invasion was motivated by a desire to secure energy supplies) he held at the time of the invasion, along with 'quite a few people in government' http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/feb/13/resource-wars-david-king.
Energy
King is a strong supporter of nuclear electricity generationNuclear power
Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity...
, arguing that it is a safe, technically feasible solution that can help to reduce emissions from the utilities sector now, while the development of alternative low-carbon solutions is incentivised http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2005/dec/16/greenpolitics.environment.
In the transport sector, King has warned Governments that conventional oil resources are more scarce than they believe and that peak oil might approach in 5 years.
Moreover, he has criticised first generation biofuels due to the effect on food prices and subsequent effect on the developing world. He strongly supports second generation biofuels
Second generation biofuels
Second generation biofuels - also known as advanced biofuels - can be manufactured from various types of biomass.Biomass is a wide-ranging term meaning any source of organic carbon that is renewed rapidly as part of the carbon cycle...
, however, which are manufactured from inedible biomass such as corn stover, wood chips or straw. These biofuels are not made from food sources (see food vs fuel
Food vs fuel
Food vs. fuel is the dilemma regarding the risk of diverting farmland or crops for biofuels production in detriment of the food supply on a global scale. The "food vs. fuel" or "food or fuel" debate is international in scope, with good and valid arguments on all sides of this issue...
).
King appears in the film The Age of Stupid
The Age of Stupid
The Age of Stupid is a 2009 British film by Franny Armstrong, director of McLibel and Drowned Out, and founder of 10:10, and first-time producer Lizzie Gillett...
, which was released in February 2009, talking about Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
.
World Forum on Enterprise and the Environment
The first Times/Smith School World Forum on Enterprise and the Environment, a three day conference in July 2009, was hailed a triumph by Sir David King after former US Vice President Al GoreAl Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
, Paul Kagame
Paul Kagame
Paul Kagame is the sixth and current President of the Republic of Rwanda. He rose to prominence as the leader of the Rwandan Patriotic Front , whose victory over the incumbent government in July 1994 effectively ended the Rwandan genocide...
, the President of Rwanda, and President Mohamed Nasheed
Mohamed Nasheed
Mohamed Nasheed is a Maldivian politician. He is the current President of the Maldives. He is the founder of the Maldivian Democratic Party and was its presidential candidate in the October 2008 presidential election, defeating long-time President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in a second round of voting...
of the Maldives were amongst many giving rousing speeches. The event was staged to explore ways of reducing the dependence of many of the world’s economies on high-carbon fuels and promote low-carbon development in poor countries. More than 200 of the world’s leading climate experts attended with many showing that renewable technologies are available and that industry is ready to switch. Both Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
and Sir David chastised the governments of rich nations for failing to implement policies to facilitate rapid low-carbon development.
Biographical
- Sir David King at the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, University of Oxford
- Sir David King at the Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge
- BBC's biography of Sir David King
- David King's article on climate change at www.chinadialogue.net
- 'Profile: Professor Sir David King' by Alison Benjamin, The Guardian, 27 November 2007.
- Sir David King: Building a Sustainable Future Lecture presented at the Royal Institute of British Architecture 2007 (Video)
- David King interviewed by Alan Macfarlane 27th November 2009 (film)