Education
University of Sheffield. University of Bristol. University of Southampton.
University of Sheffield. University of Bristol. University of Southampton.
He took up his post in August 2010. Following a period of significant progress, City will join the University of London federation in August 2016. He previously served as Vice-Chancellor of Bournemouth University (2005-2010) and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Southampton where he is currently a Visiting Professor.
A former National Aeronautics and Space Administration research scientist and advisor to the European Space Agency, Curran"s research interests include investigations into global environmental change, in particular the movement of carbon between the atmosphere and forests.
In 2007, Queen Elizabeth II approved the award of the Patron’s Medal of the Royal Geographical Society for his ‘international development of geographical science through remote sensing and Earth observation’. Curran received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Sheffield in 1976, an Master of Business Administration from the University of Southampton in 1998 and Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Science degrees from the University of Bristol in 1979 and 1991 respectively.
He is a Chartered Geographer and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society and Chartered Management Institute. His Doctor of Philosophy was followed by academic appointments at the Universities of Reading and Sheffield before moving to National Aeronautics and Space Administration Ames Research Center in 1988.
He held established Chairs in Physical Geography at the University of Wales, Swansea from 1990 and the University of Southampton from 1993.
Curran was knighted in the 2016 New Year for services to higher education.
As a member of the senior management team at Southampton, progressing from Head of Geography to Dean of Science, Curran was credited with high-profile leadership as Head of the Winchester School of Art, part of the University of Southampton. He is the Chair of the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) Board and leads the employers" negotiating team in the national pay negotiations. Chair of the national Review Body on Doctors" and Dentists" Remuneration (DDRB), where his influential 2015 report on hospital doctors" contracts supported the move to seven-day-a-week healthcare services.
Founding Chair of the Board of Trustees for The Conversation United Kingdom. A Member of Universities United Kingdom and its Research Policy and Innovation & Growth Policy Committees and President of the Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society.
He was a Member of the Natural Environment Research Council (North American Electric Reliability Corporation) and its Remuneration Committee and the Chair of its Audit & Risk Assurance Committee.
The Chair of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), Higher Education Workforce Steering Group and a Member of the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) Board and its Remuneration and Audit Committees.