Chris Rapley
Christopher Graham Rapley (known as Chris Rapley) CBE (born 8 April 1947)[1] is a British scientist. He was Executive Director of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme IGBP from 1994 to 1998, and Director of the British Antarctic Survey from 1998 to 2007. He was appointed Director of the Science Museum in 2007, stepping down in 2010. In 2008 he was awarded the Edinburgh Science Medal – "For professional achievements judged to have made a significant contribution to the understanding and well-being of humanity" He is currently Professor of Climate Science in the Department of Earth Sciences, University College London. In 2014 he and playwright Duncan Macmillan were commissioned by the Royal Court Theatre to write a play on climate change, 2071, which he performed there in late 2014.
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Life and career
Born on 8 April 1947, Rapley was educated at King Edward's School, Bath, Jesus College, Oxford (obtaining a BA in Physics in 1969) at Manchester University (obtaining a MSc in Radio Astronomy in 1976) and University College, London (obtaining a PhD in X-ray Astronomy in 1976).[2][3][4]
Between 1975 and 1981, Rapley was a scientist on NASA's Solar Maximum Mission, and was then a lecturer at the Department of Space and Climate Physics of University College London from 1981 to 1987.[4] He was professor of Remote Sensing Science at University College London from 1991 to 1997 and was Director of the British Antarctic Survey from 1998 to 2007.[2][3] During his time in the Antarctic, he helped Al Gore with the "Live Earth" concert by arranging for the Rothera Research Station's in-house band, Nunatak, to perform in Antarctica as part of the event.[4]
Rapley became a Fellow of St Edmund's College, Cambridge in 1999 and was awarded the CBE. In 2007, he was appointed as Director of the Science Museum, stepping down in 2010.[2] He has been critical of environmental organisations that have let the issue of overpopulation fall off their agendas.[5]
Theatre
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Rapley co-wrote a one-man play 2071 with playwright Duncan Macmillan, which he performed at London's Royal Court Theatre in November 2014.[6] The play was published in June, 2015.[7]
Portrait of Rapley
Rapley agreed to sit for Jon Edgar in Fittleworth during 2009 as part of the sculptor's environmental series[8] of heads.
Politics
Prior to the 2015 UK general election, he endorsed the parliamentary candidacy of the Green Party's Caroline Lucas.[9]
References
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External links
| Cultural offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by
Jon Tucker
|
Director of the Science Museum 2007 – 2010 |
Succeeded by Ian Blatchford |
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- Alumni of University College London
- British scientists
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