John Shepherd (earth scientist) facts for kids

John Graham Shepherd (born 1946) is a British scientist who studies the Earth. He is a professor at the University of Southampton and used to be in charge of the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton.

Professor Shepherd has worked on many topics related to our environment. This includes how chemicals move in the air and deep ocean, how to manage fish populations, and how the Earth's systems work together. He also led an important study on geoengineering for the Royal Society.

John Shepherd's Early Life and Education

John Shepherd was born in 1946 in Croydon, a town in south London. He went to Dr Challoner's Grammar School in Amersham, Buckinghamshire.

Studying at Cambridge University

He studied Natural Sciences at Pembroke College, Cambridge. At first, he learned about physics, mathematics, chemistry, and crystallography. Later, he focused on theoretical physics and graduated in 1967.

He stayed at Cambridge to get his doctorate degree (PhD) at the Cavendish Laboratory. His studies focused on superconductivity, which is about materials that can conduct electricity without any loss. He finished his PhD in 1971. While at Cambridge, he also appeared on the TV quiz show University Challenge.

Professor Shepherd's Career Journey

After finishing his PhD, John Shepherd started working at the Central Electricity Generating Board. There, he studied how air pollution affects the atmosphere.

Researching Oceans and Fish

In 1974, he moved to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF). His new job was to research how to safely dispose of radioactive waste in the ocean.

By 1976, his research at MAFF changed. He began using mathematical modelling to understand how fishing fleets operate and how fish populations change. This work continued for many years. He even visited the Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory in the USA several times to do research.

During the 1980s, he became a deputy director at MAFF. In this role, he helped assess and manage fish stocks. He also gave advice directly to government ministers about fisheries. He worked with international groups like the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) on fishing issues.

Leading the National Oceanography Centre

In 1994, John Shepherd became the first director of the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton. This new center brought together two important ocean research groups into one large facility. His job was to help these two groups work together as one team.

After his time as director, he became a Professor of Marine Sciences at the University of Southampton. He also led the Earth System Modelling Initiative from 1999 to 2006. Later, he took on a part-time role as a research fellow in Earth System Science. He also became a deputy director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research and continued his visits to the Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory.

Serving on Important Committees

Professor Shepherd has been part of many committees for different organizations. These include groups like NERC, DEFRA, and Cefas. Many of these committees focused on fisheries. Others looked at how oil and gas operations work offshore, including their technology and safety rules. He is also a board member of the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative, which was created after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. From 2000 to 2002, he was the president of the Challenger Society for Marine Science.

Awards and Special Honours

John Shepherd has received several important awards for his work.

In 1999, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists in the UK. He later helped with the Royal Society's study on ocean acidification in 2005. He also led their study on geoengineering in 2009.

He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA) and a Chartered Mathematician since 1991. In 2010, he was awarded the title of Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his great contributions to science.