New Pro Vice-Chancellor announced

Date: 9 February 2011

Professor Matthew Bennett is appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor.

Bournemouth University (BU) is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Matthew Bennett as Pro Vice-Chancellor responsible for Research, Enterprise and Internationalisation.

Matthew joined BU in 2002 and most recently held the position of Dean of the School of Applied Sciences. His research into Quaternary Sedimentology and Geomorphology – studying landforms and sediments of the last 2 million years – has received international recognition.

It is research that Matthew considers to be the key to BU’s future: “research is fundamental to what we have to offer and should underpin the whole of our student experience and our international strategy,” he said.  “We need to be doing research and offering research services that are driven by society and not simply determined by our own introspective interests. The twin aims of academic excellence and societal relevance are the ones I wish to see BU embrace as a new research strategy emerges in the coming months.”

Matthew has already made a great contribution to the leadership and development of a range of research and enterprise activities at BU, in particular providing academic leadership for staff development projects designed to release research and enterprise potential at BU. More recently Matthew has been leading preparations for the Research Excellence Framework (REF).

But what does Matthew consider to be his greatest achievement at BU? “The School of Applied Sciences comprises one of the most talented groups of academics within BU,” he said. “I am proud to have helped this group become financially more sustainable and re-orientate them towards the STEM agenda (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) and a bright future at the centre of science at BU.”

Matthew takes up the post of Pro Vice-Chancellor with immediate effect but will also remain Dean of the School of Applied until April 2011. He will continue with his research on human footprints.  Following the publication in ‘Science’ in 2009 and an Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) grant Matthew is currently working on the transition from early hominins (Austropiths) to modern humans (Homo) associated with the transition to endurance walking and running.