ABOUT CHES
CHES mission statement
Founded in 1991, CHES is the collective voice of the UK Environmental Sciences academic community. It is an active networking organisation for all those involved in environmental programmes within UK higher and further education. We serve to enhance the quality of outcomes in environmental education and aim to facilitate cooperation and collaboration between relevant bodies within the UK and worldwide.
Promoting Environmental Science in the UK
CHES lobbies on behalf of the environmental science community. We drive national debate and policy process forward in appropriate areas by canvassing the views of members, and through initiating dialogue with government, funding agencies and allied professional bodies. CHES advises government by invitation (through consultation exercises) and proactively in its own right.
CHES accredits programmes of study in UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in collaboration with the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES). Previously, CHES led the creation of the Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences and Environmental Studies (ES3) Benchmark Statement and was actively involved in the last Research Assessment Exercise. CHES members regularly meet to drive the leading issues in environmental science. Recently they have contributed to the latest edition of the Environmental Scientist journal which focuses on environmental education.
Links with other organisations
CHES works independently but has close links with the following organisations:
- Higher Education Academy (HEA) Subject Centre for Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences (GEES SC). Our work links academics involved in the discipline and provides resources in support of learning and training
- The Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES) facilitating degree programme accreditation, career development, professional education and delivery of Chartership
- Council of Environmental Deans and Directors (CEDD) in America to compare trends and foster relationships internationally
- World Conservation Learning Network (WCLN), via the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
UK Provision of Environmental Science programmes
In 2011 there are over 100 providers of Environmental Science degree programmes in the UK. Over half of these offer the subject as a single degree. The number of providers and the diversity of ES programme provision has declined at undergraduate level. Student recruitment is the bedrock of a school / department budgets and the decline in applications has had a significant impact on departments in UK HEIs.
The latest research shows that the proportion of time given to the environmental disciplines in school continue to fall while undergraduate admissions have remained relatively stable over time. Encouragingly, postgraduate (taught) recruitment continues to rise.
CHES Executive Committee
The business of CHES is managed by an Executive Committee. New members are elected each year at the AGM and serve a three year term.
| Name | University/Organisation | Position |
| Mrs Jennifer Blumhof | Senior Advisor for Environmental Science, GEES | |
| Mr Adam Donnan | Institution of Environmental Sciences | Honorary Treasurer |
| Dr Sarah-Jane Davies | Open University | |
| Prof. Robert Duck | University of Dundee | |
| Dr Max Hope | University of Ulster | |
| Prof. James Longhurst | University of West England | |
| Dr Diane Purchase |
Middlesex University | Honorary Secretary |
| Dr John Rieuwerts | Plymouth University | |
| Ms Ros Howell | Manchester Metropolitan University | |
| Dr Peter Shaw | University of Southampton | Chair |
| Dr Roger Smith | University of Brighton | |
| Prof. Phil Wheater | Manchester Metropolitan University | Vice Chair |
CHES Constitution
Download the CHES Constitution here.
