Professor Peter Higgins

Role: Board Member of NatureScot
Date appointed: October 2022

Profile

Pete is Professor of Outdoor, Environmental and Sustainability Education at the University of Edinburgh, where he seeks to understand how we develop relationships with natural world, and through his teaching, to help students to develop their interest in and care for nature.

His early career was as an environmental scientist, freshwater and fisheries biologist, with roles such as the re-introduction of salmon to the River Thames, before he retrained as a teacher and outdoor educator.

He brings to JNCC a lifetime's experience of working in and for the environment, promoting its value through teaching, research and policy development, including chairing the Scottish Government Ministerial Advisory Groups on Learning for Sustainability, and Membership of the National Parks Act Review Group (2008).

He is a Board member of Scotland's nature agency, NatureScot, and Chair of its Scientific Advisory Committee. He is also a Board member (2016-ongoing) and previous Chair of Europe’s largest environmental education charity, the Field Studies Council, and a member of the International Union for Nature Conservation Commission on Education and Communication.

He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, an expert adviser to the UK Commission for UNESCO, and his contributions to higher education have been recognised through the University's highest award for teaching, the Chancellor's Award.  the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the Environment and Outdoor Education.

His contributions have been recognised through the University's highest award for teaching, the Chancellor's Award, Principal Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy, Fellowships of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Royal Geographical Society; and the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the Environment and Outdoor Education.

When he gets the chance, he enjoys spending time walking in Scotland's hills, and canoeing and kayaking on our rivers and seas.