Professor Paul Leonard

Paul Leonard is an environmental consultant, based near London and has worked in core government departments and scientific institutions for nearly 40 years. He has specialised in the delivery of science – based evidence to meet policy needs, primarily in the aquatic environment. He has a long-term interest in the design and management of aquatic environmental monitoring programmes from point & diffuse sources. Besides contributing to over 40 scientific papers, he has advised on the content of many policy and technical documents. His work has included science audits, advising on the adequacy of current operations & future needs at government laboratories & industry. He is a registered Expert Witness and Council Member of the UK Environmental Law Association. www.ukela.org.

His views are sought nationally & internationally, especially for his knowledge of dealing with major emergencies and in the last twenty years has been the co-ordinator of studies covering the radiological impact of the Chernobyl reactor accident on the UK, as well as numerous marine accidents e.g. Sea Empress & the MSC Napoli. The EU recognises the need for good policy & scientific practices across EU countries and he has helped Defra in an ERANET on Accidental Marine Pollution, AMPERA, where he was Work Package Leader for the UK (June 2011).

As the Head of the Science Unit in the Marine Environment Division from 1995 to 2007 in the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, he was responsible for over 60 R&D projects annually and a budget of about £5m.

Qualifications & Awards

• 1972: BSc Hons Biological Sciences
• 1990: CBiol., MIBiol.
• 1986: MSRP
• 2000: Fellow of the Linnean Society
• 2004: CBiol, FIBiol.
• 2007: CSci., FIMarEST, CMarSci
• 2009: Fellow of the Society for Biology

Career

• 1969 – 1993: Environmental scientist at the MAFF Fisheries Laboratory
• 1993 – 1995: MAFF Government HQ scientist
• 1995 – 2007: Principal Scientist & Head of Science Unit, Marine Environment Division for MAFF & subsequently Defra.
• 2007 – present: Environmental Consultant

Research Interests

Research Activity

Much of my career has been focused on the management of a portfoilio of research projects, primarily relating to the health of the aquatic environment. In recent years my interests have included extraction of marine aggregates, marine stewardship and spatial planning.

I have sat & chaired many evaluation panels for grants, this includes work for government departments, NERC & the EU.

My teaching duties have tended to relate to MSc level students where I have been asked to summarise key aspects of their environmental course work. This often includes providing a perspective of how policy customers from government want science – based evidence to be undertaken. This may involve stewardship issues such as climate change, renewable energy, pollutant threats and integration of disparate societal needs. Tutorials may include assessment of student standards and debates about scientific evidence being fit for purpose.

I have advised the university on the balance & scope of taught modules.

• 2010 Elected to the Council of the Society for Radiological Protection www.srp-uk.org
• 2009 Elected to the Council of the UK Environmental Law Association www.ukela.org
• 2009 Speaker on ‘Water Quality of the River Thames’ hosted by Sir David Attenborough 9 October & awaiting details of pod cast recorded at Kingston University.
• 2004 – 2009 Representing the UK as the Work Package Leader of the ERANET on Accidental Marine Pollution, AMPERA, www.ampera-net.info
• 2009 Environmental Consultant for the Natural Capital Initiative Symposium 29 April to 1 May www.naturalcapitalinitiative.org.uk Leader of the Marine Workshop, 1 May 2009.
• 2008 Lead debate & main host at the Royal Society on ‘Water: Science into Policy’ on behalf of the Institute of Biology.
• 2008 Guest speaker to scientists at the Vancouver Aquarium on UK Marine Stewardship
• 2008 Environmental scientist assisting the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames assess issues relating to surface flooding www.richmond.gov.uk/pastscrutinytaskgroups.htm
• 2007 Introductory Speaker ‘Informing policy with science ~ the importance of understanding change’ www.aquaticchange07.org
• 2007 UK participant at the Safer Seas & associated meetings for the AMPERA ERANET, www.saferseas-brest.org
• 2007 Technical advice on student input to a bursary scheme of the Defra the Marine Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund www.alsf-mepf.org
• 2006 – 2009 Deputy Chairman of the Institute of Biology: Environment, Agriculture & Land Use Committee www.iob.org

For a large proportion of my career, I have been lucky to be able to represent the UK on behalf of government departments at international meetings in Europe, USA, Canada, Japan and Hong Kong.

Reviewing work

1980s to present ~ peer review of papers & proposals for Government departments & NERC. Some work for other UK research councils.

2006 to 2009 peer reviewer for EU & Belgian governments

PRIMO 11 (2001) Conference, Plymouth, 10 - 13 July 2001, Pollution Responses in Marine Organisms - Guest Editor for four papers.

IRPA (1992) Proc. 8th Int. Cong., Montreal, 17-22 May 1992, IRPA - Guest Editor for ~ four papers

LEONARD, D.R.P. (1991). Environmental contamination following a major nuclear accident. IAEA Vol. I & II. J. Soc. Radiol. Prot. 11 (2). 154-155.

LEONARD D.R.P, MARTIN K and VARVILL (2011) Developing better community use of the River Crane, a tributary of the River Thames. 7th Symposium for European Freshwater Science, Girona, Spain, SEFS7 July 2011, p119

LEONARD D.R.P. and DEBNEY J. (2009) The River Thames landscape strategy, working in partnership to meet common aims 6th Symposium for European Freshwater Science, Sinaia, Romania, SEFS6 August 2009 p. 60

GARNACHO. E, LAW R., LEONARD D.R.P. and MOREIRA S (eds) (2009) How research can better support policy development in accidental marine pollution. EU ERANET Publication 4, 12 pp www.ampera-net.info

HAGGAR J.A., JONES M.B., LOWE D., LEONARD D.R.P., OWEN R. and GALLOWAY T.S. (2008) Application of biomarkers for improving risk assessments of chemicals under the Water Framework Directive: a case study Mar. Poll. Bull 56 1111 - 1118

GALLOWAY T.S., HAGGER J.A., LOWE D., LEONARD D.R.P., OWEN R AND JONES M.B. (2007) Can biomarkers measure the environmental health of estuaries? ICES CM 2007 / 1:01

HAGGAR J.A., JONES M.B., LEONARD D.R.P., OWEN R. and GALLOWAY T.S. (2006) Biomarkers: Are there more questions than answers? Intgd Env. Assess & Mngmt. 2 (4) 312 - 329

LEONARD DRP (2006) The 2005 Earthwatch Balloon Debate – raising awareness of the importance of freshwater ecology FBA News No. 32, Winter 2005/6 p3.

LEONARD D.R.P., CLARK K.R., SOMERFIELD P. and WARWICK R (2006) The application of an indicator based on taxonomic distinctness for UK marine biodiversity assessments J Env. Mangmt. 78 52 - 62

JONES I, GEORGE G, LEONARD D.R.P, MABERLEY S.C and WINFIELD I (2005) Should the impact of climate change on lakes be taken into account by European policy? An examination using long-term datasets and ecological models. Fourth Symposium for European Freshwater Sciences, Krakow, SEFS4 August 2005 p 85.

LEONARD D.R.P, MORRIS C.C & WAKERLEY M. J. (2005) How the monitoring programme for Chernobyl radionuclides has helped planning for a future emergency, pp 473 - 477 SRP Int’l Symp. Cardiff June 2005.

MOORE M., READMAN J., DEPLEDGE M.J. AND LEONARD D.R.P. (2004) An integrated biomarker-based strategy for ecotoxicological evaluation of risk in environmental management Mutation Research 552 247 – 268.

LEONARD D.R.P. (2002) The role of biological research in supporting policy needs Mar Env Res 54 209 - 213

JACKSON D, McDONALD, P. and LEONARD, D.R.P (2000) An initial assessment of radiation exposure arising from Pb-210 and Po-210 in terrestrial foodstuffs from regions of England and Wales in Int Symp. SRP, Southport, June 1999.

LEONARD D.R.P. LAW R.J. and KELLY C.A (1999) Responding to the Sea Empress Oil Spill. pp 177 – 182 in Proc. Int. Symp. Mar. Poll., Monaco 5 –9 Oct. 1998 IAEA SM-354/86 IAEA – TECDOC - 1094.

McDONALD, P., McKAY, K.,JOHN, C., JACKSON D and LEONARD, D.R.P (1999) Pb-210 and Po-210 in Terrestrial Foodstuffs from regions of potential technological enhancement in England and Wales. J. Env. Radio. 43 15 –29.

LAW R.J., THAIN J.E., KIRBY M.F., ALLEN Y.T., LYONS B.P., KELLY C.A., HAWORTH S., DYRYNDA E.A., DYRYNDA P.E.J., HARVEY. J.S., PAGE S., NICHOLSON M.D. AND LEONARD D.R.P. (1999) The impact of the Sea Empress Oil Spill on Fish and Shellfish Proc. Sea Empress Conf. 11 - 13 February 1998, Cardiff CIWEM

FULKER, M.J., JACKSON D, LEONARD, D.R.P, McKAY, K., and JOHN, C. (1998) Dose due to man-made radionuclides in terrestrial wild foods near Sellafield. J. Radiol. Prot. 18 3 - 13.

SMITH, J T, LEONARD, D.R.P., HILTON J. and APPLEBY P. G. ( 1997 ) Towards a Generalised Model for the Primary and Secondary Contamination of Lakes by Chernobyl - Derived Radiocaesium Health Physics 72 (6) 880 - 892.

ROSE, C.L., McKAY, W.A., LEONARD, D.R.P., BARR, H.M., TOOLE, J. and HALLIWELL, C.M. ( 1996) Radioactivity in Two Tide-Washed Areas in the Eastern Irish Sea: A Radiological Assessment J. Sci. Tot. Env. 191 1 - 13

SANCHEZ, A.L. HORRILL, A.D., SINGLETON, D.L., and LEONARD, D.R.P (1996) Radionuclides around nuclear sites in England and Wales, Sci. Tot. Env. 181 51 - 63.

FULKER, M.J., LEONARD, D.R.P, McKAY, K.,JOHN, C. and JACKSON D. (1996) An Assessment of the Radiological significance of consuming wild foods collected near the Sellafield Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing Plant. IRPA 9, Vienna (2) 604 - 606 ISBN 3-900255-4-5.

TIPPLE, J.R.J. and LEONARD, D.R.P. (1995) The residence time of stocked hatchery reared brown trout (Salmo trutta) and rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykis) in Trawsfynydd Lake and their accummulation of radioactive caesium. Fish Man. & Ecol. 2 1-10.

LEONARD, D.R.P., MONDON, K.J. and SEGAL, M.G. (1993). A systematic approach to control radioactive waste discharges. J. Soc. Radiol. Prot. 13 (1) 43-55.

HILTON, J., LIVENS, F.R., SPEZZANO, P. and LEONARD, D.R.P. (1993). Retention of radioactive caesium by different soils in the catchment of a small lake. Sci. Tot. Env. 129 253-266.

LEONARD, D.R.P., CAMPLIN, W.C., CALDWELL, P., BROWN, A. and AUSTIN, L.S. (1992). Marine Radioactivity in the Channel Islands. Fish Res. Data Rep. (29) 42pp.

ELLIOTT, J.M., HILTON, J., RIGG, E. TULLET, P.A., SWIFT, D.J. and LEONARD, D.R.P. (1992). Sources of variation in post-Chernobyl radiocaesium in fish from two Cumbrian Lakes (north-west England). J. Appl. Ecol 29 108-119.

LEONARD, D.R.P. (1992). The history of critical group doses from the consumption of freshwater fish at Trawsfynydd. pp 70-73 In: Proc. 8th Int. Cong. IRPA, Montreal, 17-22 May 1992.

HUNT, G.J., LEONARD, D.R.P. and LOVETT, M.B. (1990). Transfer of environmental plutonium and americium across the human gut: a second study. Sci. Tot. Env. 90 273-282.

LEONARD, D.R.P., CAMPLIN, W.C. and TIPPLE, J.R. (1990). The variability of radiocaesium concentrations in freshwater fish caught in the United Kingdom following the Chernobyl reactor incident and an assessment of potential doses to critical group consumers. In "Int. Symp. on environmental contamination following a major nuclear accident" IAEA Vienna, 16-20 October 1989. IAEA-SM-306/15 1 247-256.

HUNT , G.J., LEONARD, D.R.P. and LOVETT, M.B. (1989). Transfer of environmental plutonium and americium across the human gut. Radiol. Prot. Bull 106 7-11.

LEONARD, D.R.P. (1989). Monitoring for radionuclides at fish farms and from put and take fisheries. Trout News 9 18-22.

CAMPLIN, W.C., LEONARD, D.R.P., TIPPLE, J.R. and DUCKETT, L. (1989). Radioactivity in freshwater systems in Cumbria (UK) following the Chernobyl accident. CEC Contract B16 0246, UK(H). Fish Res. Data Rep. (18) 90 pp.

HUNT, G.J., LEONARD, D.R.P., FRY, F. (1989). High-rate seafood consumers near Sellafield: comparison of conventional assessments of caesium-137 intakes with the results of whole-body monitoring. Rad. Prot. Dosim. 27 (1) 35-41.

LEONARD, D.R.P. and HALL, I.R. (1989). The design and implementation of an environmental monitoring programme around the Torness nuclear power station. pp.375-378. In: E.P. Goldfinch (Ed.), Radiation Protection - Theory and Practice Proc. 4th Int. Symp. Soc. Radiol. Prot., Malvern 4-9 June 1989. Institute of Physics, Bristol and New York.

LEONARD, D.R.P. and HUNT, G.J. (1988). The use of thermoluminescent dosemeters in measuring external exposure of potential members of a critical group near Sellafield to verify data from habits surveys. pp. 642-645. In: Proc. 7th Int. Cong., IRPA, Sydney. April 10-17, 1988. Pergamon Press, ISBN 0 08 0344410.

HUNT, G.J., LEONARD, D.R.P. and LOVETT, M.B. (1988). Transfer factors across the human gut for plutonium and americium in shellfish from near Sellafield. pp.638-641. In: Proc. 7th Int. Cong., IRPA, Sydney. April 10-17, 1988. Pergamon Press, ISBN 0 08 0344410.

DODDINGTON, T.C., JONES, P.G.W. and LEONARD, D.R.P., (1988). Investigations of radiation exposure pathways from liquid effluent at Hinkley Point nuclear power station: local habits survey, 1986. Fish Res. Data Rep. (13) 13 pp.

HUNT, G.J., LEONARD, D.R.P. and LOVETT, M.B. (1987). Comments on the paper "Transfer of environmental plutonium and americium across the human gut". Sci. Tot. Environ. 64, 330-332.

HUNT, G.J., LEONARD, D.R.P. and LOVETT, M.B. (1986). Transfer of environmental plutonium and americium across the human gut. Sci. Tot. Environ. 53 89-109.

HUNT, G.J., LEONARD, D.R.P. and LOVETT, M.B. (1986). Transfer of environmental plutonium and americium across the human gut. The Lancet, 22 February, pp. 439-440.

CAMPLIN, W.C., MITCHELL, N.T., LEONARD, D.R.P., and JEFFERIES, D.F. (1986). Radioactivity in surface and coastal waters of the British Isles. Monitoring of fallout from the Chernobyl Reactor Accident. MAFF Direct. Fish. Res., Lowestoft, AEMR 15 49 pp.

MITCHELL, N.T., CAMPLIN, W.C. and LEONARD, D.R.P., (1986). The Chernobyl reactor accident and the aquatic environment of the UK: A Fisheries Viewpoint. J. Soc. Radiol. Prot. 6(4), 167-172.

LEONARD, D.R.P., and HUNT, G.J. (1985). A study of fish and shellfish consumers near Sellafield: Assessment of the critical groups including consideration of children. J. Soc. Radiol. Prot. 5(3) 129-138.

LEONARD, D.R.P., (1984). Investigation of individual radiation exposures: Comparative use of interview and logging techniques in habits surveys of the Cumbrian coastal fishing community pp. 763-766. In: A. Kaul, R. Nieder, J. Pensko, F.-E. Stieve and H Brunner (Eds.), 'Radiation - Risk-Protection, Vol. II. Proc. 6th Int. Congr. Int. Radiat. Prot. Assoc., Berlin. Fachverband fur Strahlenschutz e. v., Julich. 947 pp.

LEONARD, D.R.P., and SMITH, B.D. (1982). Sizewell nuclear power station investigation of radiation exposure pathways from liquid effluents: local habits survey 1981. Sizewell Inq. Ser., MAFF Direct. Fish. Res., Lowestoft, (1), 19 pp., figs., tables.

LEONARD, D.R.P., HUNT, G.J. and JONES, P.G.W. (1982). Investigation of individual radiation exposures from discharges to the aquatic environment - the technique of habits surveys. pp. 512-517 In Proceedings of the 3rd International Symposium on Radiological Protection - Advances in Theory and Practice, Inverness, 6-11 June 1982. Vol. II. Society for Radiological Protection.

LEONARD, D.R.P. and PENTREATH, R.J. (1981). Further 237Pu experiments with the plaice Pleuronectes platessa: sub-cellular distribution of plutonium in the liver. Mar. Biol., 63, 67-71.

Examples of involvement with other publications where a contribution has been made anonymously in conjunction with other scientists

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (2008) Surface Flooding Scrutiny Task Group, www.richmond.gov.uk/pastscrutinytaskgroups.htm

IACMST (2006) Underwater Sound & Marine Life, IACMST Working Group Report No.6, 20pp.

Defra & CEFAS (2005) Delivering the evidence for marine policy – innovative research in the marine environment 1989 – 2004. 8 pp + CD-ROM ISBN 0 – 85521 – 054 -0.

Defra (2005) Marine Bill Newsletter 4pp

Defra (2005) Charting Progress – An integrated assessment of the State of the Seas, 120 pp + CD ROM[ref. PB9911] available from Defra publications, Admail 6000, London SW1A 2XX, tel. 08459 556000, e-mail: defra@iforcegroup.com.

Marine Environment Monitoring Group (2004) UK National Marine Monitoring Programme – Second Report (1999 – 2001) 136 pp ISBN 0 907545 20 3. Available from CEFAS see web site www.cefas.co.uk

IACMST (2003) UK Marine Environment Monitoring Strategy

Defra (2002) Safeguarding Our Seas – a strategy for the conservation and sustainable development of our marine environment

Inter-government Committee on Endocrine Disruption (1999) - Summary of UK research on endocrine disruption

SEEEC (1997) Chapter on environmental impact of marine pollution following the Sea Empress oil spill.

ROBINSON et al (1996) Critical group doses around nuclear sites in England and Wales (NRPB-R271)

MAFF (1995) Radioactivity in Food and Agricultural Products in England and Wales, 1994, Terrestrial Radioactivity Monitoring Programme. c.250 pp. MAFF Publications, London.

HMIP, MAFF, HMNII (1994) The potential for Abnormal Aerial Discharges from Buildings under care and maintenance at BNFL’s Sellafield works. A Report of an Audit in Response to the Release of Alpha Activity in February 1993. 49 pp. HMSO.

ANON. (1991). Radioactivity: controlling waste disposal to the aquatic environment. MAFF Direct. Fish. Res., Lowestoft. DFR Handout 10. 4 pp.

HUNT, G.J. (1990) Radioactivity in surface and coastal waters of the British Isles 1989. Aquat. Environ. Monit. Rep., MAFF Direct. Fish. Res., Lowestoft. AEMR 23, 66 pp.

MAFF (1989). Monitoring radionuclides from the Chernobyl reactor accident. In: Research into Fisheries and the Marine Environment 1987-88. Report of the Director. MAFF Direct. Fish. Res., Lowestoft pp.42-43.

DOE (1988). Monitoring and Radioactivity in the UK Environment. HM Inspectorate of Pollution, Department of the Environment. HMSO 68 pp. ISBN 0 11 752066 7.

MAFF (1987). Monitoring of Radioactivity in the Aquatic Environment in 1986 and 1987. 20 October 1987. Press Release 314/87. 9 pp.