Making Sense of Chemical Stories
Contributors
Professor Peter Atkins
Peter Atkins is a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oxford. He was originally a physical chemist, but now writes textbooks on chemistry and books on science for the general public. His research interests include Quantum theory, magnetic resonance and the electromagnetic properties of molecules and he has published in learned journals on these topics in the years 1961 to 1983. He has published over 50 books, the most recent being Galileo’s Finger in 2003. He is also a regular participant in radio and television programmes related to the public understanding of science.
Professor Sir Colin Berry
Sir Colin is Emeritus Professor of Pathology at Queen Mary’s, London. He has worked in Paediatric Pathology and in Vascular Pathology and has written standard texts on both subjects, and has a body of experimental work in vascular pathology with a number of international collaborations. His interest in toxicology has meant that he has served as a member of the Committee on Safety of Medicines and as a member of a number of related committees of the European Commission. He was Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides for ten years. He has recently served as the medical member of the Government’s Radical Review of the Coroner Services. Since retirement from his University Chair he has been increasingly involved in work on the public understanding of science and serves on the Steering Committee of the European Science Open Forum.
Dr Andrew Cockburn
Andrew Cockburn is Director of Toxico-Logical Consulting Ltd. He has experience in working at an international level as a Toxicologist in the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries. He is Visiting Professor to the School of Biology and Psychology at the University of Newcastle and a Fellow of the Institute of Biology. . He specialises in human safety and risk assessment issues for food, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and biotechnology products, especially novel proteins. He has over 60 scientific publications and is a regular contributor to scientific meetings.
Dr Diana Cook
Diana Cook is Director & Company Secretary of CookPrior Associates Ltd., of which she is joint founder and owner. Diana offers support and expertise in business project and Environmental Asset Management. She has worked in the water treatment divisions for CIBA Speciality Chemicals and Allied Colloids Group. She has co-authored several reports; “Sustainable Development & Regulation” and “Integrated Pollution Control at Allied Colloids: the 3Es Case Study”.
Dr John Emsley
John Emsley is a freelance writer and broadcaster. He has worked as a science writer in residence at both Imperial College, London and Cambridge University. Since 1993 he has authored seven popular science books, his latest being Elements of Murder. He has written hundreds of articles for the national press and other popular science publications. He has received awards for his publications including the Rhône Poulenc Science Book Prize for The Consumer’s Good Chemical Guide, and the Royal Society of Chemistry’s John Jeyes Lectureship. John has had 110 research papers published, mainly on phosphorus chemistry. He also acts as a consultant for the Broadcast Advertising Clearance Centre, pre-vetting adverts for television that involve household chemicals and similar products.
Professor John Henry
John Henry worked as a Consultant Physician National Poisons Information Service from 1982 to 1997. He then moved to Imperial College, London where he took up the post of Professor of Accident and Emergency Medicine. In 2004, he became Honorary Consultant at St Mary’s Hospital. His interests are acute human toxicity, illicit drugs and toxic mechanisms.
Dr John Hoskins
John Hoskins has worked for the Medical Research Council, initially as an analytical chemist and latterly as a toxicologist. In 1997, he left the MRC to become an independent toxicologist and to better fulfil editorial commitments at ‘Indoor and Built Environment’, of which he became Editor-in-Chief in 1994. He has sat on various committees, including chairing the Royal Society of Chemistry Toxicology Group and has been a specialist adviser to House of Commons Select Committee on the Environment. He has published over 100 papers in learned journals and several books, plus contributions to a number of others.
Dr Paul Illing
Paul Illing has been an independent consultant since 1999, specialising in toxicology and risk assessment for occupational health, product and process safety and environmental pollution. He founded the consultancy following 18 years in government chemicals risk assessment. Prior to that he worked in pharmaceuticals research, specialising in metabolism and pharmacokinetics. He has published extensively on toxic risk assessment and management. He is also an Honorary Lecturer in the Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Manchester, and a visiting lecturer to MSc courses in toxicology at the Universities of Birmingham and Surrey. Paul is the current Royal Society of Chemistry representative on the UK Chemicals Stakeholders Forum (DEFRA).
Dr Derek Lohmann
Derek Lohmann is an Inorganic Chemist with experience in University Lecturing and Industry. He has specialised in heavy metal chemistry and radiochemistry with an emphasis on Nuclear Medicine. More recently, he has worked as an independent Health, Safety and Environmental Consultant, specialising in the installation of Management Systems and waste minimisation. This has involved working with organisations ranging from multinational to SMEs. He sits on a number of committees, including the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Environment, Health and Safety committee.
Professor Alan Malcolm
Alan Malcolm has been Chief Executive of the Institute of Biology since June 1998. His background is in academic biochemistry with particular reference to medical applications, followed by seven years in food research, and has been Chairman of the British Nutrition Foundation. He has been an Expert Adviser to Select Committees in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords and is currently a Vice President of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee. He is a Visiting Professor at the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine. He has published more than two hundred scientific papers and is a contributor to radio, television and other news media.
Kevin Prior
Kevin Prior is the co-founder and director of CookPrior Associates Ltd, a business offering support and expertise in business project and Environmental Asset Management. Previous to this he has worked for several water companies, Aspinwall & Co Ltd and also for Yorkshire Water Services Ltd., where he was responsible for advice and interpretation on all aspects of legislation concerning Drinking Water Quality and Environmental issues. He sits on numerous committees advising on toxicity and water including The Royal Society of Chemistry, Environmental, Health and Safety Committee and Water Science Forum.
This document was prepared by a Sense About Science secretariat. The final responsibility for the content rests with Sense About Science.
Last updated: June 08 2006
