{{Short description|British geologist (born 1934)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}} {{Use British English|date=January 2013}} {{Infobox scientist | honorific_prefix = [[The Right Honourable]] | name = The Lord Oxburgh | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|KBE|FRS|HonFREng|sep=|size=100}} | image = Official portrait of Lord Oxburgh crop 2, 2019.jpg | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1934|11|02}} | workplaces = | alma_mater = [[University College, Oxford]]<br />[[Princeton University]] | thesis_title = Geology of the eastern Carabobo area, Venezuela | thesis_year = 1960 | doctoral_advisor = [[Harry Hammond Hess]] | awards = [[Bigsby Medal]] (1979) | spouse = Ursula, Lady Oxburgh | children = 3 | module = {{Infobox officeholder | embed = yes | office1 = Member of the [[House of Lords]] | status1 = [[Lord Temporal]] | term_label1 = [[Life peer]]age | term_start1 = 27 July 1999 | term_end1 = 28 April 2022 }} }}

'''Ernest Ronald Oxburgh, Baron Oxburgh''' (born 2 November 1934) is an English [[geologist]], [[geophysics|geophysicist]] and politician.<ref name="Lord Oxburgh, KBE, FRS HonFREng">{{cite web |url=http://www.ljmu.ac.uk/Graduation/82477.htm |title=Lord Oxburgh, KBE, FRS HonFREng |publisher=Ljmu.ac.uk |date=31 July 2006|access-date=24 August 2010|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060807000723/http://www.ljmu.ac.uk/Graduation/82477.htm |archive-date=7 August 2006 }}</ref> Lord Oxburgh is well known for his work as a public advocate in both academia and the business world in addressing the need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and develop alternative energy sources<ref name="d1plc1">{{cite web |url=http://www.d1plc.com/news.php?article=113 |title=D1 Oils – News |publisher=D1plc.com |date=31 December 2007 |access-date=24 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100223044726/http://www.d1plc.com/news.php?article=113 |archive-date=23 February 2010 }}</ref> as well as his negative views on the consequences of current oil consumption.

==Early life== Oxburgh was born in [[Liverpool]] on 2 November 1934. He remained there with his family throughout [[World War II]], despite Luftwaffe air raids. He attended [[Liverpool Institute High School for Boys]] from 1942 to 1950. He is a graduate of [[University College, Oxford]] and [[Princeton University]] (PhD) (1960) where he worked on the emerging theory of plate tectonics<ref>{{cite journal|author=E. R.&nbsp;OXBURGH |title=Flake Tectonics and Continental Collision |journal=Nature |volume=239 |issue=5369 |pages=202–204 |publisher=Nature.com |date=1972-09-22 |doi=10.1038/239202a0 |bibcode=1972Natur.239..202O |s2cid=4186536 }}</ref> with the famous geologist [[Harry Hammond Hess]].

==Career== Oxburgh has taught [[geology]] and [[geophysics]] at the Universities of [[University of Oxford|Oxford]] and [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]]. At Cambridge he was [[Professorship of Mineralogy and Petrology (Cambridge)|Professor of Mineralogy and Petrology]], head of the [[University of Cambridge Department of Earth Sciences|Department of Earth Sciences]] and [[List of Presidents of Queens' College, Cambridge|President]] of [[Queens' College, Cambridge|Queens' College]]. He has been a visiting professor at [[Stanford University|Stanford]], [[California Institute of Technology|Caltech]], and [[Cornell University|Cornell]]. From 1988 to 1993, Lord Oxburgh was [[MoD Chief Scientific Adviser|chief scientific adviser to the Ministry of Defence]], and Rector of [[Imperial College London]] from 1993 to 2000.<ref>[http://www.imperial.ac.uk/aboutimperial/imperial_people/pastrectors/oxburgh The Lord Oxburgh, KBE, FRS: Rector 1993–2000] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616090540/http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/aboutimperial/imperial_people/pastrectors/oxburgh |date=16 June 2011 }}</ref> He was a member of the [[National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education]] that published an influential report in 1997.<ref>{{cite web|title=Higher Education in the learning society: Main Report|url=http://www.educationengland.org.uk/documents/dearing1997/dearing1997.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211022652/http://www.educationengland.org.uk/documents/dearing1997/dearing1997.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 February 2015|website=Education England|access-date=10 February 2015}}</ref>

During 2004–05 Oxburgh was a non-executive chairman of Shell, the UK arm of [[Royal Dutch Shell]]. His tenure was remarkable in that while chairing a fossil fuels giant he expressed his "fears for the planet" because of climate change, sought new energy sources, and urged the global community to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3814607.stm |title=UK &#124; Shell boss 'fears for the planet' |work=BBC News |date=17 June 2004 |access-date=24 August 2010}}</ref>

Lord Oxburgh was appointed Deputy Chairman of the [[Agency for Science, Technology and Research|Science and Engineering Research Council (Singapore)]], as of 1 January 2002, and is a member of the International Academic Advisory Panel of Singapore and the [[University Grants Committee (Hong Kong)]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.a-star.edu.sg/Default.aspx?TabId=339&SkinSrc=%5BL%5DSkins%5Castar%5CSubPagePrinterFriendly |title=Lord Ronald Oxburgh |publisher=A-star.edu.sg |access-date=24 August 2010}}</ref> He is honorary president of the Carbon Capture and Storage Association,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ccsassociation.org.uk/about_ccsa/staff.html |title=CCSA – Staff |publisher=Ccsassociation.org.uk |access-date=24 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100818211305/http://www.ccsassociation.org.uk/about_ccsa/staff.html |archive-date=18 August 2010 }}</ref> chairman of Falck Renewables, a wind energy firm,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news.uwa.edu.au/200911261939/media-statements/no-more-cheap-energy-says-expert |title=No more cheap energy, says expert: The University of Western Australia |publisher=News.uwa.edu.au |date=26 November 2009 |access-date=24 August 2010}}</ref> an advisor to [[Climate change capital|Climate Change Capital]]. He was chairman of D1 Oils, plc, a biodiesel producer, in 2007, and a director of GLOBE, the Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment.<ref name="d1plc1"/>

In March 2010, he was appointed as the chair of an inquiry into the research conducted by the [[Climatic Research Unit]] following the [[Climatic Research Unit hacking incident]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8579929.stm|title=Chair announced for climate probe |date=22 March 2010|work=BBC News|access-date=22 March 2010}}</ref> The report,<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.uea.ac.uk/mac/comm/media/press/CRUstatements/SAP| title = Evidence - Evidence - The Independent Climate Change Email Review - Library - UEA}}</ref> released 14 April 2010, found that "...work has been carried out with integrity, and that allegations of deliberate misrepresentation and unjustified selection of data are not valid." Critics asserted Oxburgh's ties with businesses that stood to profit from the decision created a conflict of interest.<ref>{{cite news|author=David Adam |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/apr/14/oxburgh-uea-cleared-malpractice |title=Scientists cleared of malpractice in UEA's hacked emails inquiry &#124; Environment &#124; guardian.co.uk |newspaper=The Guardian |date=14 April 2010|access-date=24 August 2010 | location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article7071751.ece | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528032340/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article7071751.ece | url-status=dead | archive-date=28 May 2010 | location=London | work=The Times | first=Ben | last=Webster | title=Lord Oxburgh the climate science peer has a conflict of interest | date=23 March 2010}}</ref> The University of East Anglia did not see any conflict of interest,<ref>[https://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/03/26/uea_oxburgh_statement/ Anglia defends Oxburgh's eco network ties] The Register</ref> stating, <blockquote>''"The choice of scientists is sure to be the subject of discussion, and experience would suggest that it is impossible to find a group of eminent scientists to look at this issue who are acceptable to every interest group which has expressed a view in the last few months. Similarly it is unlikely that a group of people who have the necessary experience to assess the science, but have formed no view of their own on global warming, could be found."''<ref name="uea.ac.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.uea.ac.uk/mac/comm/media/press/CRUstatements/SAPannounce |title=CRU Scientific Assessment Panel announced – University of East Anglia |publisher=UEA |date=22 March 2010 |access-date=24 August 2010}}</ref></blockquote>

==Personal life== While at Princeton University, Oxburgh was joined by his fiancée, Ursula, whom he married in the university chapel. They have three children.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3815151.stm |title=UK &#124; Profile: Lord Oxburgh |work=BBC News |date=2004-06-17 |access-date=2010-08-24}}</ref> An outdoorsman, Oxburgh enjoyed orienteering and running marathons until knee surgery limited him to mountain hikes with his wife.<ref name="Lord Oxburgh, KBE, FRS HonFREng"/>

==Awards and honors== *He was appointed [[Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (KBE) in the [[1992 Birthday Honours]]<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=52952 |date=13 June 1992 |page=7 |supp=y}}</ref> and made a [[Life Peer]] as '''Baron Oxburgh''', of [[Liverpool]] in the County of [[Merseyside]] on 27 July 1999,<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=55569 |date=2 August 1999 |page=1}}</ref> where he sits as a [[crossbencher]] on the [[House of Lords]] Select Committee on Science and Technology<ref>{{cite web|url=http://biographies.parliament.uk/parliament/default.asp?id=27143 |title=MPs, Lords and offices – UK Parliament |publisher=Biographies.parliament.uk |date=2010-04-21 |access-date=2010-08-24}}</ref> and is an officer of the All-Parliamentary Group for Earth Sciences.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bgs.ac.uk/esef/all_party/All_party_home.htm |title=All-Party Parliamentary Group for Earth Sciences: home page |publisher=Bgs.ac.uk |date=2000-04-05 |access-date=2010-08-24}}</ref> *He is an honorary fellow of [[St Edmund Hall, Oxford|St Edmund Hall]]<ref>[http://www.seh.ox.ac.uk/index.php?section=263 Fellows and Staff > Honorary Fellows > Rt. Hon. The Lord Ernest Ronald Oxburgh], [[St Edmund Hall, Oxford]], UK.</ref> and [[University College, Oxford]]. *He received the 2007 Platts Life Time Achievement Award.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.climatechangecapital.com/news-and-events/ccc-in-the-news/climate-change-capital%E2%80%99s-lord-oxburgh-wins-platts-life-time-achievement-award.aspx |title=Climate Change Capital's Lord Oxburgh Wins Platts Life Time Achievement Award |publisher=Climate Change Capital |date=2007-11-15 |access-date=2010-08-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708164802/http://www.climatechangecapital.com/news-and-events/ccc-in-the-news/climate-change-capital%E2%80%99s-lord-oxburgh-wins-platts-life-time-achievement-award.aspx |archive-date=8 July 2011 }}</ref> *He is a fellow of the [[Royal Society]]. *He is a Corresponding [[list of Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science|fellow of the Australian Academy of Science]]. *He is an Honorary [[Fellow]]<ref name="List of Fellows">{{cite web|title=List of Fellows|url=http://www.raeng.org.uk/about-us/people-council-committees/the-fellowship/list-of-fellows|access-date=29 October 2014|archive-date=8 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160608094405/http://www.raeng.org.uk/about-us/people-council-committees/the-fellowship/list-of-fellows|url-status=dead}}</ref> of the [[Royal Academy of Engineering]]<ref name="List of Fellows"/> and a Foreign member of the US [[National Academy of Sciences]] as well as the Australian Academy of Science and the [[German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina]].<ref name="uea.ac.uk"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasonline.org/site/Dir/308686899?pg=vprof&mbr=1004537&returl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasonline.org%2Fsite%2FDir%2F308686899%3Fpg%3Dsrch%26view%3Dbasic&retmk=search_again_link |title=National Academy of Sciences |publisher=Nasonline.org |access-date=2010-08-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= Ronald Oxburgh |url=https://www.leopoldina.org/mitgliederverzeichnis/mitglieder/member/Member/show/lord-ronald-oxburgh/|publisher=German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina |access-date=1 June 2021}}</ref> *He is an Honorary Fellow of [[Liverpool John Moores University]].<ref name="Lord Oxburgh, KBE, FRS HonFREng"/> *Degree of Doctor of Science, ''honoris causa'', from [[Leeds University]] conferred 21 July 2009<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.leeds.ac.uk/info/30310/honorary_graduates/250/lord_oxburgh_of_liverpool/ |title=University of Leeds – Lord Oxburgh of Liverpool |publisher=Leeds.ac.uk |date=2009-07-21 |access-date=2010-08-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100405040919/http://www.leeds.ac.uk/info/30310/honorary_graduates/250/lord_oxburgh_of_liverpool |archive-date=5 April 2010 }}</ref> *Singapore Honorary Citizenship, from the President Tony Tan Keng Yam of Singapore, conferred 2 October 2012. *He was awarded the [[Melchett Medal]] by the British [[Energy Institute]] on 2 December 2014<ref>[https://www.energyinst.org/events/view/4400 Melchett Medal awarded to Lord Oxburgh]: [[Energy Institute]] Events Guide, 2 December 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2015</ref>

==Selected bibliography== * Oxburgh, E.R. (1968) ''The Geology of the eastern Alps'', London: Geologists' Association, 127 p. * Oxburgh, E R. (1974) ''The plain man's guide to plate tectonics'', The eleventh Geologists' Association special lecture delivered 2 February 1973, Oxford: Geologists' Association., Reprinted from the ''Proceedings of the Geologists' Association'', '''85''' (3) * Moorbath, S., Thompson, R.N. and Oxburgh, E.R. (1984) "The relative contributions of mantle, oceanic crust and continental crust to magma genesis: Proceedings of a Royal Society discussion meeting held on 23 and 24 March 1983", ''Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London'', '''310''' (1514), 342 p., London: Royal Society, {{ISBN|0-85403-230-4}} * Oxburgh, E R., Yardley, B.W.D. and England, P.C. (Eds) (1987) ''Tectonic settings of regional metamorphism'', Proceedings of a Royal Society discussion meeting in association with IGCP project no.235 on 'Metamorphism and Geodynamics' held on 29 and 30 January 1986, London: Royal Society, {{ISBN|0-85403-290-8}} * Butler, R. Sir, Oxburgh, R. Sir and Field, F. (1996) ''Social business'', Newchurch lecture series, London: Newchurch & Company, {{ISBN|0-9529139-0-9}} * Oxburgh, E.R., Baron (Chairman) (2004) "Chips for everything: follow-up: report with evidence": 1st report of session 2003–04 / House of Lords, Science and Technology Committee, House of Lords papers '''15''', London: Stationery Office, {{ISBN|0-10-400372-3}} * Oxburgh, E.R., Baron (Chairman) (2004) "Radioactive waste management: report with evidence: 5th report of session 2003–04 / House of Lords, Science and Technology Committee", ''House of Lords papers'' '''200''', London: Stationery Office, {{ISBN|0-10-400568-8}} * Oxburgh, E.R., Baron (Chairman) (2004) "Renewable energy: practicalities; 4th report of session 2003–04 / House of Lords, Science and Technology Committee", ''House of Lords papers'' '''126''', London: Stationery Office, {{ISBN|0-10-400506-8}} * Oxburgh, E.R., Baron (Chairman) (2004) "Science and the RDAs: follow-up: report with evidence: 2nd report of session 2003-04 / Select Committee on Science and Technology", ''House of Lords papers'' '''103''', London: Stationery Office, {{ISBN|0-10-400463-0}} * Oxburgh, E.R., Baron (Chairman) (2004) "Science and treaties: 3rd report of session 2003-04 / Select Committee on Science and Technology", ''House of Lords papers'', '''110''', London: Stationery Office, {{ISBN|0-10-400471-1}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category-inline|Ronald Oxburgh, Baron Oxburgh}} *[https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3815151.stm Ernest Ronald Oxburgh Profile] *[http://www.royalsoc.ac.uk/page.asp?id=3182 The right climate for business: Ron Oxburgh] talk at the [[Royal Society]] *[https://www.theguardian.com/life/interview/story/0,12982,1240021,00.html Ron Oxburgh: "I'm really very worried for the planet"] from ''[[The Guardian]]'' *[http://www.seh.ox.ac.uk/index.php?section=263 Ron Oxburgh: Honorary Fellow] of [[St Edmund Hall, Oxford]] *[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3814607.stm Shell boss Ron Oxburgh "Fears for the planet"] *[https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199899/minutes/991013/ldminute.htm Announcement of his introduction at the House of Lords] House of Lords minutes of proceedings, 12 October 1999 *[https://web.archive.org/web/20111220054539/http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/sep2007/gb20070917_292517.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_global+business Former Shell Exec Sees Oil Hitting $150] ''The Independent'' *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110708164802/http://www.climatechangecapital.com/news-and-events/ccc-in-the-news/climate-change-capital%E2%80%99s-lord-oxburgh-wins-platts-life-time-achievement-award.aspx Climate Change Capital’s Lord Oxburgh Wins Platts Life Time Achievement Award]

{{s-start}} {{s-aca}} {{s-bef|before=Merger of Department of Geology with Departments of Mineralogy & Petrology and Geodesy & Geophysics}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge|Head of Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge]]|years=1980 - 1988}} {{s-aft|after=[[Nick McCave]]}}

{{s-bef|before=[[William Alexander Deer|W.A. Deer]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Professorship of Mineralogy and Petrology (Cambridge)|Professor of Mineralogy and Petrology]], [[University of Cambridge]]|years=1978-1988}} {{s-aft|after=[[Ekhard Salje|E.K.H Salje]]}}

{{s-bef|before=[[Derek Bowett]]}} {{s-ttl|title=President of [[Queens' College, Cambridge]]|years=1982–1989}} {{s-aft|after=[[John Polkinghorne]]}} {{succession box | title = [[Rector of Imperial College London]] | years = 1993–2000 | before = [[Eric Ash]] | after = [[Richard Sykes (biochemist)|Richard Sykes]] }} {{s-bus}} {{s-bef|before=[[Philip Watts]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Chairman of [[Shell Transport and Trading]] |years = 2004–2005}} {{s-aft|rows=2|after=Position dissolved July 2005<br />responsibilities split between<br />CEO [[Royal Dutch Shell]]:<br />[[Jeroen van der Veer]]; and<br />Chairman (Non-Exec) [[Royal Dutch Shell]]:<br />[[Aad Jacobs]]}} {{s-prec|uk}} {{s-bef|before=[[Baron Carlile of Berriew|The Lord Carlile of Berriew]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Orders of precedence in the United Kingdom|Gentlemen]]'''<br />''Baron Oxburgh'' '''}} {{s-fol|after=[[Baron Harrison|The Lord Harrison]]}} {{s-end}}

{{GLS Presidents}} {{Presidents of Queens' College, Cambridge}} {{Rectors of Imperial College, London}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oxburgh, Ronald}} [[Category:1934 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Alumni of University College, Oxford]] [[Category:People educated at Liverpool Institute High School for Boys]] [[Category:Princeton University alumni]] [[Category:Presidents of Queens' College, Cambridge]] [[Category:Rectors of Imperial College London]] [[Category:Crossbench life peers]] [[Category:Scientists from Liverpool]] [[Category:Chief Scientific Advisers to the Ministry of Defence]] [[Category:Honorary Fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering]] [[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society]] [[Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] [[Category:Foreign associates of the National Academy of Sciences]] [[Category:Presidents of the British Science Association]] [[Category:Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science]] [[Category:Members of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina]] [[Category:Life peers created by Elizabeth II]] [[Category:Professorship of Mineralogy and Petrology (Cambridge)]] [[Category:Peers retired under the House of Lords Reform Act 2014]] [[Category:Presidents of the Geological Society of London]] [[Category:Earth scientists at the University of Cambridge]]