Dr Bryan Wells appointed Chief Scientist at NATO

On 1st July 2019, Catz alumnus Dr Bryan Wells (1978, Chemistry) was appointed to the position of Chief Scientist at NATO.  In this prestigious role he will serve as Chair of the NATO Science and Technology Board, will advise the NATO leadership in matters relating to science and will lead the Office of the Chief Scientist at the NATO headquarters.

Dr Wells read Chemistry at St. Catherine’s College.  After conducting post-doctoral research as a Junior Research Fellow at Merton College, he joined the Ministry of Defence. Most recently he served as the UK Ministry of Defence’s Head of Science and Technology Policy, Strategic Research and International Engagement.  He has also completed a term as Chair of the European Defence Agency’s Research and Technology Steering Board.

Speaking after his appointment was announced, Dr Wells said that “it is a great honour to be appointed NATO Chief Scientist. Science and Technology plays a vital role in the defence and security of NATO’s Allies and Partners. Becoming NATO Chief Scientist will enable me to move my work in this field to a new level.”

As Chief Scientist, Dr Wells will govern the NATO science and technology division, which is responsible for supporting the security and defence programmes of the NATO alliance.  The largest global collaborative research group in defence and security, it brings together an international community of over five thousand scientists.