| Activity | Education:
Gravesend Grammar School; Imperial College, London; Rothamsted Experimental Station
Career:
Head of Department of Zoology and Applied Entomology, Imperial College, London and Director of Imperial's Field Station at Silwood Park (1967-1979); Dean of Science, Imperial College, London; Chair, Division of Life Sciences, Imperial College, London; Linacre Chair of Zoology, Oxford University (1979-1989); Chairman, Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (1981-1985), produced report 'Lead in the Environment' (1983), which led to the adoption of lead-free petrol in the UK; Vice Chancellor, Oxford University (1989-1993); Pro-Vice Chancellor, Oxford University (1993-1998).
BSE Inquiry was set up on 12 January 1998 to establish and review the history of the emergence and identification of BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) and new variant CJD (Creutzfeld-Jacob Disease) in the United Kingdom, and of the action taken in response to it up to 20 March 1966; to reach conclusions on the adequacy of that response, taking into account the state of knowledge at that time; and to report on these matters to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Secretary of State for Health and the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Phase 1 hearings were from March to December 1998. Salmon letters sent out in December 1998, and hearings of Phase 2 began in March 1999. Several extensions were necessary, and report published on 26 October 2000 in 16 volumes. The Southwood Working Party and its report of February 1989 pivotal to the Inquiry; the first DFA to appear, in January 1999, and Volume 4 of the published report, were titled 'The Southwood Working Party 1988-1989.' References to it appear in every volume, particularly Volume 11 'Scientists after Southwood' and Volume 1 'Findings and Concusions'. Southwood initially drafted the Working Party's statements and responses to the Inquiry, and oral evidence (Phase 2) was led by him.
Honours:
Kt 1984
Memberships:
US National Academy of Sciences, 1988 |