Southampton alumnus and former Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Curran, was honoured with a Knighthood in the New Year Honours for his wide-ranging achievements in higher education.
Professor Curran, now Vice-Chancellor at City University London, served the University of Southampton from 1993-2005. He held the Chair in Physical Geography upon his arrival in Southampton, progressing to Head of Geography, Dean of Science and Head of Winchester School of Art before being appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor in 2004. He also received an MBA from the University in 1998 and continues as a Visiting Professor at Southampton within Geography and the Environment.
Academically, Professor Curran was a pioneer in ecological Earth observation as a NASA research scientist, an academic geographer and an advisor to the European Space Agency. His award-winning work involving the use of satellite sensors to monitor the environment is published widely.
Professor Curran said:
“A Knighthood is an amazing and a profoundly humbling surprise. I am immensely grateful for the life-changing effect that higher education had on me, for the encouragement of my many colleagues and for the support of my wife and daughter, who have been with me every step of the way.”