Professor Sir Ian Boyd

Biography

Professor Sir Ian Boyd was Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from September 2012 to August 2019.

He is currently Professor in Biology at the University of St Andrews. Career highlights include:

  • Physiological Ecologist with the Natural Environment Research Council Institute of Terrestrial Ecology
  • Science Programme Director with the British Antarctic Survey
  • Director at the Natural Environment Research Council’s Sea Mammal Research Unit
  • Chief Scientist to the Behavioural Response Study for the US Navy
  • Director for the Scottish Oceans Institute
  • Acting Director and Chairman with the Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland

He has received the Scientific Medal of the Zoological Society of London, and the Bruce Medal (awarded once every 4 years) for his research in polar science. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Society of Biology. In 2017 Ian was awarded the prestigious Polar Medal.

Ian is the Defra Head of Science and Engineering Profession (HoSEP) for the Government Science and Engineering Profession (GSE).

Previous roles in government

  • Defra Chief Scientific Adviser