New Head of Institute of Petroleum Engineering

Professor Dorrik Stow has been announced as the new Head of the Institute of Petroleum Engineering (IPE) at Heriot-Watt. He took up his post on 1 October 2012.

Professor Stow moves from his previous role within IPE as Director of Research and Chair of ECOSSE, the Edinburgh Collaborative of Subsurface Science and Engineering. Prior to joining IPE in 2008, he was Professor in the School of Ocean and Earth Science at the University of Southampton.

Professor Stow began his career as an Exploration Geologist with the British National Oil Corporation in Glasgow before moving on to Edinburgh University. He has held a number of academic positions in universities and institutes in the UK and overseas. He studied at both the University of Cambridge and Dalhousie University in Canada.

Professor Stow is internationally renowned as a sedimentologist, geologist and oceanographer with an extensive record of scientific publications. He specialises in deep-sea sedimentary systems, a major frontier area for the petroleum industry. He also maintains a strong interest in the field of geoscience and development, and has a great enthusiasm for bringing science to the wider population through books and lectures.

Professor Steve Chapman, Principal of Heriot-Watt University, said, "I am delighted Dorrik is taking up this role. He will bring strong vision and leadership to the Institute. I am very much looking forward to working with him on our ambitious plans for the future."

Professor Stow said, "The new role is both challenging and exciting. We have a world class institute in petroleum engineering with an unprecedented opportunity for further growth and development. We will broaden the scope and reach of our research and teaching mission across the world."