Press Releases

Professor appointed as DFID's new Deputy Chief Scientific Advisor

Release Date : 10 February 2010

A professor at the University of Reading's Walker Institute has been appointed by the Government to ensure the latest scientific research is used to help reduce world poverty.

Tim Wheeler, Professor of Crop Science, will be working as Deputy Chief Scientific Advisor and Deputy Director of the Research & Evidence Division at the Department for International Development (DFID). DFID is the part of the UK government that manages Britain's aid to poor countries and works to get rid of extreme poverty.

Professor Wheeler said: "I am very much looking forward to helping to direct DFID's research programme and to ensure that the latest research is used in the fight to reduce poverty in the world's poorest countries.

"Although I will be based in London, I'll still be spending some of my time at the University in order to provide a strong link between new scientific knowledge and innovation and the development of government policy."

Professor Wheeler is also head of the Crops and Climate Group of the Walker Institute, the Crops Research Group of the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, and Director of the Plant Environment Laboratory at the University.

He has a world-wide reputation in agricultural research in developing countries and the impacts of climate change on agriculture. He has worked in countries such as Bolivia, Nigeria, Honduras Uganda and The Gambia. He co-authored a recent UN World Food Programme report on "Climate Change and the Risk of Hunger".

Professor Wheeler's experience will help DFID build on its increasingly strong science and research capacity. He will take up his new role on a three-year secondment to DFID, while retaining his Professorship at the University where he'll spend 20 per cent of his time.