Hassan Ehsan Masood (born 9 August 1967) is a British science writer, journalist and broadcaster. Between 2009 and 2017 he was the editor of Research Fortnight (part of Research Professional News), is currently bureau chief (editorials, Africa and the Middle East) at
Nature
Nature, in the broadest sense, is the physics, physical world or universe. "Nature" can refer to the phenomenon, phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general. The study of nature is a large, if not the only, part of science. ...
, and has been teaching international science policy at
Imperial College London
Imperial College London (legally Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine) is a public research university in London, United Kingdom. Its history began with Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria, who developed his vision for a cu ...
. since 2008.
Biography
Born in London, his father Hassan Masood worked in actuarial science and his mother Shamsa Masood is a writer of short fiction in Urdu.
He went to schools in New York, Karachi and London; studied applied physics at
Portsmouth Polytechnic
, mottoeng = Let us follow the Light
, established = 1870 (Portsmouth and Gosport School of Science and Art)
, type = Public
, budget = £282.5 million (2020/21)
, chancellor ...
and science communication at
Birkbeck, University of London
, mottoeng = Advice comes over nightTranslation used by Birkbeck.
, established =
, type = Public research university
, endowment = £4.3 m (2014)
, budget = £10 ...
.
He worked for the journal
Nature
Nature, in the broadest sense, is the physics, physical world or universe. "Nature" can refer to the phenomenon, phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general. The study of nature is a large, if not the only, part of science. ...
as a writer on science and international development from 1995 to 1999 and again as acting chief commissioning editor in 2008/2009. He has also worked as Opinion Editor of
New Scientist
''New Scientist'' is a magazine covering all aspects of science and technology. Based in London, it publishes weekly English-language editions in the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia. An editorially separate organisation publishe ...
and communications director at LEAD International.
[LEAD International](_blank)
non-profit sustainable development training and networking organization
Masood has also written for ''
Prospect'' magazine and ''
openDemocracy.net
openDemocracy is an independent media platform and news website based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 2001, openDemocracy states that through reporting and analysis of social and political issues, they seek to "challenge power and encourage de ...
'', as well as
The Times
''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper ''The Sunday Times'' (fou ...
,
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
and
Le Monde
''Le Monde'' (; ) is a French daily afternoon newspaper. It is the main publication of Le Monde Group and reported an average circulation of 323,039 copies per issue in 2009, about 40,000 of which were sold abroad. It has had its own website si ...
. He is a former director of communications of Leadership for Environment and Development and also advises the
British Council
The British Council is a British organisation specialising in international cultural and educational opportunities. It works in over 100 countries: promoting a wider knowledge of the United Kingdom and the English language (and the Welsh lan ...
on science and on cultural relations.
Ehsan Masood was a regular contributor to Home Planet, an environmental affairs programme on
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC that replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. It broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history from the BBC' ...
in the UK.
Awards and nominations
In January 2015, Masood was nominated for Services to Science and Engineering at the
British Muslim Awards
The British Muslim Awards are an annual award ceremony that honours the success and achievements of British Muslim individuals, groups and businesses. It was established in 2013.
Overview
The British Muslim Awards was founded by Oceanic Consulti ...
.
In February 2023, Masood won Inclusive Mosque Initiative's Workplace Ally of the Year Award.
Selected publications
His latest book is ''The Great Invention: The Story of GDP and the Making and Unmaking of the Modern World'', which will be published in the US on 7 June 2016 by Pegasus.
Ehsan Masood's previous book is ''
Science and Islam: A History''.
This tells the story of how science developed during Islam's imperial period from 800 to 1500. It is the official tie-in to a three-part documentary series on BBC Television presented by
Jim Al-Khalili
Jameel Sadik "Jim" Al-Khalili ( ar, جميل صادق الخليلي; born 20 September 1962) is an Iraqi-British theoretical physicist, author and broadcaster. He is professor of theoretical physics and chair in the public engagement in scien ...
, Professor of Physics at the University of Surrey.
His other publications include:
Shared Europe''This is a report for a major new
British Council
The British Council is a British organisation specialising in international cultural and educational opportunities. It works in over 100 countries: promoting a wider knowledge of the United Kingdom and the English language (and the Welsh lan ...
programme of activities aimed at reducing mistrust between non-Muslim and Muslim communities.
* ''Dry: Life Without Water'', Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press 2006 (editor with Daniel Schaffer)
* ''How Do You Know? Reading
Ziauddin Sardar
Ziauddin Sardar ( ur, ضیاء الدین سردار; born 31 October 1951) is a British-Pakistani scholar, award-winning writer, cultural critic and public intellectual who specialises in Muslim thought, the future of Islam, futurology and s ...
on Islam, Science and Cultural Relations'', London: Pluto Press 2006 (editor)
* ''British Muslims: Media Guide'', published by the British Council in association with the Association of Muslim Social Scientists, 2006. Download a copy of ''British Muslims: Media Guide'
here* ''The GM Debate: Who Decides? Analysing Decision-making on Genetically Modified Crops in Developing Countri
London: Panos 2005''
In the media
* In February 2009, Ehsan Masood presented a three-part series for BBC Radio 4 entitled
Islam and Science'
* Ehsan Masood is a regular panellist on BBC Radio 4's environmental affairs programm
Planet'' Prospect article by Ehsan Masood republished on Wanabehuman.
Science, Development, FaithEhsan's Open Democracy columns
Special issue of ''Nature'', November 2006
Ehsan Masood talks about ''Dry: Life Without Water''on ''Start the Week'' on BBC Radio 4, 29 May 2006
Televised discussion on climate security at Carleton University, Canadawith John Ashton, Simon Dalby and hosted by
Ken Rockburn Ken Rockburn (born 1947) is a Canadian radio and television journalist and host. He is most noted for his associations with the Canadian Cable Public Affairs Channel ( CPAC), the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and CHEZ-FM radio.
Career history
...
of CPAC's ''Talk Politics'' show, February 2007
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Masood, Ehsan
1967 births
Living people
English male journalists
English science writers
English Muslims
Academics of Imperial College London
Alumni of the University of Portsmouth
Alumni of Birkbeck, University of London
English people of Pakistani descent