Fellow

John Krebs is Chairman of the Foods Standards agency. He is a distinguished behavioural ecologist, well known for his work on bird behaviour and neuroscience. He has made major contributions to science in the areas of population change, animal communication, foraging theory and animal memory, particularly the role of the hippocampus. His involvement with medical sciences began when he became Chief Executive of Natural Envionment Research Council in 1994 and became involved in the study of Tubeculosis and its control, writing an influential report. In January 2000 he became the Founding Chairman of The Food Standards Agency. On controversial issues such as BSE and genetically modified or organic food he has been a model of scientific rigour and shown a courageous resistance to various pressure groups. Under his guidance The Food Standards Agency has taken important initiatives in reducing food poisoning and is currently undertaking a programme to reduce the salt intake of the United Kingdom population. This and other initiatives he has led have the promise of major public health benefits.