UK Chief Scientific Advisor, David King, to Head Oxford Institute for Finding Private Sector Solutions to Environmental Problems. (November 30, 2007)

David King, 68, who will remain in his post as research director of Cambridge University's chemistry department will be replaced in January by Imperial College London's Professor John Beddington, a specialist in applied biology and fisheries, as chief scientific advisor. 

Professor King has served as chief scientific advisor to Tony Blair and Gordon Brown over the past seven years.

According to The Guardian he will become foundation director of the new Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, founded with £10m from Martin Smith, an Oxford graduate, as well as retaining his chair at Cambridge.

Michael Spence, head of Oxford's social sciences division, told EducationGuardian.co.uk: "Environmental consciousness is the classics of the 21^st century. We're interested in reaching students who regard themselves as the next prime minister or company directors that will need an awareness of environment issues to be effective."

Professor King told The Guardian's Anthea Lipsett that the school's pioneering credentials were what drew him to the role: "What's different about it and essentially isn't mimicked anywhere else in the world is the interface between enterprise, society and government to the subject. Dealing with environmental problems has to be done with the private sector rather than against the private sector. The biggest challenge we have is climate change and therefore carbon exhaust emissions and green house gas emissions will be key research priorities."