Geoffrey Oldham, CBE

Geoffrey Oldham, Former Director of the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) at the University of Sussex, is well-known for his role as UK Delegate on the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development and for his chairmanship of the United Nations Advisory Committee on Science and Technology for Development. Professor Oldham also chaired the Commission’s Working Groups on Gender and Science and Technology for Development, and on Information Technology and Development.

Serving as Science Advisor to the President of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) from 1992 to 1996 and highly involved during its formative years, Professor Oldham was instrumental in the initiation of the Science and Technology Policy Instruments (STPI) project which focused on the implementation of science policy in developing countries.

Professor Oldham completed his graduate work in geophysics at the University of Toronto under the supervision of renowned Canadian geophysicist and geologist John Tuzo Wilson. Following the completion of his studies, he worked as a research geophysicist with the Standard Oil Company of California. Later, Professor Oldham completed a fellowship at with the Institute of Current World Affairs and studied extensively both the Chinese language and the role of science and technology in Asian development.

Professor Oldham is currently a member of the Gender Advisory Board to the Commission, and of the Gender Advisory Committee to the Academy of Sciences of the Developing World. He is a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) and in 2006 he received an Honourary Doctorate of Laws from York University in Canada.

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