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Sue Hartley, Professor of Ecology in the School of Life Sciences, has been appointed Professor of Environmental Research at the University of York and founding director of the York Environmental Sustainability Institute (YESI). 

YESI is a new interdisciplinary research centre created by the University of York to bring together leading environmental researchers from a broad range of disciplines to tackle key environmental issues. It comprises more than 60 researchers from the Departments of Biology, Environment and Chemistry, and the School of Social and Political Sciences. 

Sue will take up her post on 1 November.

Sue said: "I'm very sorry to be leaving Sussex - I have enjoyed working with some outstanding colleagues and I have benefited greatly from the value placed on interdisciplinary research at this institution.

"After 10 years here, moving to the University of York, an institution with an outstanding record in environmental research, is a logical next step for me and I'm delighted to be appointed director of YESI, which is an exciting and timely initiative.

"I'm looking forward to the opportunity to facilitate interactions between academics from such a broad range of disciplines and to help turn outstanding science into effective and improved polices for environmental sustainability."

Professor Alastair Fitter, from the Department of Biology at York, said: "Sue is internationally known for her innovative work on plant-herbivore interactions; in December 2009 she delivered the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, an exceptional accolade. I have no doubt that this is a great appointment for us and will give YESI real momentum."