We announce with pleasure, from 1st January 2010 Jonathan Sharples will take up a Professorship with the University of Liverpool. His post, supported equally by the University and the Natural Environment Research Council, is in the Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences. It allows Jonathan to spend half of his time here and half with the University.

Professor Jonathan Sharples.

Jonathans' time at here enables him to continue leading our Shelf Sea Processes Programme and Irish Sea Observatory.

The University and NERC are developing this joint post to further strengthen links between POL and the University. This is especially important as the Department of Earth and Ocean Science becomes part of a larger School of the Environment.

The Proudman Oceanographic (POL) scientific research focuses on oceanography encompassing global sea-levels and geodesy, numerical modelling of continental shelf seas and coastal sediment processes. This research alongside activities of surveying, monitoring, data management and forecasting provides strategic support for the wider mission of the Natural Environment Research Council.

As a public funded body it is part of our remit to inform the public of the science and research undertaken at the laboratory. Attending events like the 'Ocean Awareness Weekend' at the Blue Planet Aquarium offers the opportunity for our scientists to meet members of the public and present the laboratory's work.

The Natural Environment Research Council is one of the UK's eight Research Councils. It uses a budget of about £ 350m a year to fund and carry out impartial scientific research in the sciences of the environment. NERC trains the next generation of independent environmental scientists. It is addressing some of the key questions facing mankind, such as global warming, renewable energy and sustainable economic development.