Dean of the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences
Professor Judith Petts became Dean of the new Faculty of Social and Human Sciences in October 2010 and holds the chair of Environmental Risk Management. Before moving to Southampton she was Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Research and Knowledge Transfer, University of Birmingham.
Research Interests
A human geographer by background, Professor Petts’ research and work has always been intensely interdisciplinary. Over 30 years her applied strategic research has made important contributions in the broad area of environmental risk management including environmental governance and policy-making, environmental assessment in decision-making; science-society relationships, and public perceptions, responses and behaviour.
She has worked in waste management, land contamination, natural hazards, climate change and health risks contexts. She has made particular contributions around the process and evaluation of public engagement in decision-making.
Policy impacts
Professor Petts has undertaken extensive policy advisory and consultancy work nationally and internationally, including in the UK for the Environment Agency, Department of Health, Health and Safety Executive, BIS and Defra and both House of Commons and House of Lords Committees.
She is a member of Defra’s Science Advisory Council, and the government’s Sciencewise Expert Resource Centre steering group. She was a member of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (2005-2011), and a member of NERC Council (2000-2006).
She has been a member of the Advisory Board of Veolia Environmental Plc since 2000.
University responsibilities
- Executive Dean of the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences
- Member of the University Executive Group
- University champion for environment and sustainability
- Chair of the Capital Programme Board
- Member of the board of the University of Southampton Science Park Ltd.
Personal
Professor Petts is married and living in one of Hampshire’s most beautiful villages. In her spare time she likes to get away to wild and remote places, her destination of choice being the High Arctic – as far north as possible!
