Toxicology Award 2009 winner

Awarded for transforming our view of ecotoxicity particularly our understanding of the role of potential endocrine disrupting chemicals.

About the winner

I did my BSc and PhD, both in marine zoology, at Bangor University in North Wales. After a short post-doctoral period there, I joined Brunel University as a lecturer in the Department of Applied Biology. I have remained there ever since, becoming a professor in 1991. I was head of the Department of Biological Sciences for 3 years, and Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences for a year, before becoming the head of the Institute for the Environment in 2006.

My initial independent research, begun in early 1980's, was in the field of comparative endocrinology, and focused on the hormonal control of reproduction in fish. It was aimed at supporting the fledgling aquaculture industry, as it was at that time.

It was largely chance that led me into the field of ecotoxicology, and in particular endocrine disruption in wild fish. The techniques I had developed when studying fish reproduction provided the appropriate tools to study environmental endocrine disruption of fish.

My research rapidly gathered momentum, and became very multidisciplinary. These collaborations with scientists from many disciplines have been a feature of my research, and allowed me to produce influential research in many areas (including analytical chemistry!).

My research has often been of interest to the media, and been featured on the television (in many countries), the radio, and in newspapers, magazines and books. Its influence still surprises me.