[Photo credit: University of Bristol]
He won’t have to travel too far to take up his new academic position! Professor Phil Taylor will be leaving the University of Bristol to take on the job of being the next Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Bath.
Professor Taylor is an internationally leading researcher and industry expert in energy systems, electrical distribution networks, smart grids, and energy storage integration and control, who has worked in industry and academia for more than 25 years.
Currently Pro Vice Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at the University of Bristol, Professor Taylor has been deeply involved in building multi and interdisciplinary research strengths and with REF preparations.
He leads the £10m EPSRC Supergen Energy Networks Hub at the University of Bristol and until May 2022 he was Director and Co-Director for the £20m EPSRC National Centre for Energy Systems Integration. He is also the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) for Isambard-AI, a £225m investment from the Government to create the UK’s fastest AI Supercomputer.
In 2022, Professor Taylor was appointed by the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government’s Net Zero Innovation Board and became Chair of the Board for the GW4 alliance of the universities of Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter. Professor Taylor is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Fuel Poverty Charity, National Energy Action. Additionally, he is a Visiting Professor at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
Professor Phil Taylor said: “It is a real privilege to be appointed as the next Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Bath. As Pro Vice Chancellor at Bristol and Chair of Board for GW4, I have got to know the University of Bath as a partner over the last few years and am excited both by its achievements and potential.
“I had the pleasure of meeting a number of students and staff during the appointment process, and was impressed by the quality of our conversations, the clear dedication and passion felt for the University and excitement for the future. I very much look forward to working with colleagues to build on the University’s accomplishments and to ensure the dynamism and energy of the community continues to shape a successful and sustainable future, rooted in our region alongside truly international reach.”
Pamela Chesters CBE, Chair of Council, said: “I am delighted that Professor Taylor has been appointed as the next Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bath. We were impressed by Phil’s understanding of the essence of Bath as a dual intensive University, committed to excellence in both teaching and research. His thoughts on how we could build on our recent successes to increase further our impact, both in the UK and particularly internationally, resonated equally with staff and student representatives on the interview panel. Professor Taylor’s exceptional academic record, and strong experience in industry and commerce, will help the University of Bath to build on its positive trajectory and achievements to date, under the leadership of Professor Ian White. We look forward to welcoming Phil to Bath when he takes up office in August.
“I would like to thank members of the Committee on the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, chaired by the Chancellor, His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, and including representatives from Council, Senate, Professional Services and the President of the students’ union for the vital role they played. The Committee oversaw a global search as well as a significant internal engagement exercise. I am grateful to members of the wider University community who have played such an important role in the process of recruiting our next Vice-Chancellor.”
Jimena Alamo, President of The SU (students’ union), said:
“Professor Taylor impressed me, and the other officers and students involved in the recruitment process, with his approachable manner and his ability to engage well with students when discussing complex issues. His background in student experience was clearly about more than fulfilling a job, but about truly caring about students, their education, and enabling them to have a positive and transformative experience while at university. I very much look forward to welcoming him to Bath.”
A very impressive curriculum vitae, and fine declarations of mutual admiration amongst fellows of North Somerset’s rarified academic world.
But I saw no mention of the University’s supporting environment, Bath City, nor aspirations to further collaboration between ‘town & gown’.
Is the University going to continue as ‘the castle on the hill’, filling our roads with its traffic and our land with accommodation for its students?
And will the University now pay some attention to the 2023 cross-party ISC report on China which has revealed, and highlighted, a national security threat through academic leakage/theft of sensitive research and intellectual property data from our Universities, which avail themselves of the high fees the CCP Military are prepared to pay for access to that data.
I hate to rain on the new Chancellor’s parade, but these three issues, university traffic, university accommodation and national security must be priorities of his new remit, surely.