Appointments

John Beringer , pro vice-chancellor of Bristol University, has been invited by the prime minister to become a member of the Council for Science and Technology.

David Balfour , professor in behavioural pharmacology at the University of Dundee, has been appointed chairman of the European Board for the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco.

The University of Oxford has appointed Steffen Lauritzen , professor of mathematics and statistics at Aalborg University, professor of statistics from May 1 when he will become a fellow of Jesus College; Linda McDowell , professor of economic geography at the University of London, will take up the professorship of human geography in September and a fellowship of St John's College; Sarah Whatmore , professor of environmental geography at the Open University, will become professor of environment and public policy in July and a fellow of Linacre College.

Peter Smith , professor of economics at the University of York, has been appointed commissioner at the Audit Commission.

Campus (the business club linked with the University of Salford) has appointed David Dickman , head of cooperative sector development at the Co-operative Bank, chairman of the board of trustees for two years; Jonathan Carley , a former deputy headmaster, has been appointed head of development linking the work of Campus and Academic Enterprise.

Andrew Grubb , head of Cardiff Law School and professor of medical law, has been appointed adjudicator within the government's department for constitutional affairs.