Ex-government advisor Sir David King is University of Liverpool’s new Chancellor

Nov 24 2009 by Ben Turner, Liverpool Daily Post

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A FORMER government advisor, who famously claimed climate change was a bigger threat than terrorism, has been appointed as the University of Liverpool’s new chancellor.

Outspoken Sir David King has been confirmed as the successor to Lord David Owen, co-founder of the SDP.

As the Government’s chief scientific adviser from 2000 to 2007, South African-born Sir David’s role included keeping the Government up to speed on issues as diverse as the foot and mouth epidemic, GM foods and post- September 11 terrorist risks to the UK.

He was also instrumental in creating the UK’s £1bn Energy Technologies Institute and raising awareness of the need for governments to act on climate change.

The subject was something which saw Sir David make headlines around the world in 2004, when he told a science journal climate change was a far greater global threat than international terrorism.

As chancellor, he will take on an ambassadorial role tasked with raising the university’s profile.

The appointment marks a homecoming for Sir David, who spent 14 years as a physical chemistry at the university from 1974.

Last night, Sir David said it was “an enormous honour for me to serve this great institution as its chancellor”.