Nicholas David Leimu-Brown (born 4 December 1962) is a British
botanist
Botany, also called , plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. A botanist, plant scientist or phytologist is a scientist who specialises in this field. The term "botany" comes from the Ancient Greek wo ...
and academic. Since 2010, he has been Principal of
Linacre College, Oxford
Linacre College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in the UK whose members comprise approximately 50 fellows and 550 postgraduate students.
Linacre is a diverse college in terms of both the international composition of its me ...
. He is also a
Commonwealth Scholarship
The Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) is an international programme under which Commonwealth governments offer scholarships and fellowships to citizens of other Commonwealth countries.
History
The plan was originally proposed b ...
Commissioner.
Early life and education
Leimu-Brown was born on 4 December 1962 in
Brockworth, Gloucestershire
Brockworth is a village and parish in the Borough of Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England, situated on the old Roman road that connects the City of Gloucester with Barnwood. It is located 4 miles (6.5 km) southeast of central Gloucester ...
, England. He completed the
International Baccalaureate
The International Baccalaureate (IB), formerly known as the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), is a nonprofit foundation headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and founded in 1968. It offers four educational programmes: the IB Dip ...
at UWC Atlantic College in Wales from 1979 to 1981. He then studied geography at the
University of Cambridge
, mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts.
Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge.
, established =
, other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...
(
Churchill College
Churchill College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It has a primary focus on science, engineering and technology, but still retains a strong interest in the arts and humanities.
In 1958, a trust was establish ...
) between . From 1986 to 1990 he studied for a DPhil in Forest Ecology under the supervision of
Timothy Charles Whitmore
Timothy is a masculine name. It comes from the Greek name ( Timόtheos) meaning "honouring God", "in God's honour", or "honoured by God". Timothy (and its variations) is a common name in several countries.
People Given name
* Timothy (given name) ...
at the University of Oxford (Linacre College). His thesis was entitled "Dipterocarp regeneration in tropical rain forest gaps of different sizes". He has also completed a diploma in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education.
Career and research
Leimu-Brown was a lecturer at Manchester University from 1989 and then from 1992 to 2010 he was a lecturer in
forestry
Forestry is the science and craft of creating, managing, planting, using, conserving and repairing forests, woodlands, and associated resources for human and environmental benefits. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands. Th ...
at the
University of Oxford
, mottoeng = The Lord is my light
, established =
, endowment = £6.1 billion (including colleges) (2019)
, budget = £2.145 billion (2019–20)
, chancellor ...
.
In 2010 he took office as the fourth principal of
Linacre College
Linacre College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in the UK whose members comprise approximately 50 fellows and 550 postgraduate students.
Linacre is a diverse college in terms of both the international composition of its m ...
, Oxford.
Since 2014 he has been a
Commonwealth Scholarship
The Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) is an international programme under which Commonwealth governments offer scholarships and fellowships to citizens of other Commonwealth countries.
History
The plan was originally proposed b ...
Commissioner acting as chair of awards policy committee.
Since 2015 he has been the chair of the University of Oxford buildings and estates sub-committee and serves on the planning and resource allocation committee of council. He also chairs the
Radcliffe Observatory Quarter
The Radcliffe Observatory Quarter (ROQ) is a major University of Oxford development project in Oxford, England, in the estate of the old Radcliffe Infirmary hospital.
The site, covering 10 acres (3.7 hectares) is in central north Oxford. It is b ...
Leimu-Brown is married to Dr Roosa Leimu-Brown, a yoga therapist, movement educator and dance artist with a PhD in biology, affiliated with the
Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford
The Department of Plant Sciences, at the University of Oxford, England, was a former Oxford department that researched Plant biology, plant and Fungus, fungal biology. It was part of the university's Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Div ...