Professor Nigel Bell (1943 - 2025)

Tribute to Emeritus Professor Nigel Bell (John ‘Nigel’ Berridge Bell).

It is with our deepest sadness that we announce the passing of Emeritus Professor Nigel Bell (John ‘Nigel’ Berridge Bell), BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD, Doctor of Environmental Studies (honoris causa), FIEEM, FRSA,FLS, MHEA, CEnv, Emeritus Professor of Environmental Pollution.

Nigel passed away surrounded by his family on Saturday the 15th of February 2025 at the age of 81. He leaves his wife of 18 years, Elinor Lord and his three boys from his second marriage, Glyn, Gareth and Owain, and his dear grandchildren, Betsi and Cassie.

Professor Bell, or as he was affectionately known to staff and students, alike, Nigel, joined Imperial College in 1970, and was one of the ‘founding fathers’ of our Master’s Degree in Environmental Technology, and consequently, the Centre for Environmental Policy (CEP) (as it is now known) here at Imperial College, in 1977. With Nigel’s passing we see the end of an era, which was built on the foundational work of Nigel, the late Prof. Sir Gordon Conway and the late Lord Brian Flowers.

Nigel was Director of Imperial College Centre for Environmental Technology (ICCET, now CEP) which was set up in 1976, from 1986-1994 and was the Director of the MSc Environmental Technology for 30 years until 2008. Nigel was a highly regarded colleague and supporter of staff from all walks of life, always ready to help and support others, particularly those in more junior roles. Nigel was also an avid supporter of our students, having taught and supervised numerous students at MSc and Doctoral levels across the decades, at our South Kensington and Silwood Park Campuses. He taught for the Centre for Environmental Policy (formerly ICCET) and across other schools in the College (Biology and Ecology).

Many of us remember Nigel with huge fondness and as a globally renowned scientist who also exuded genuine warmth and interest in all the activities of our staff and students. Nigel was a founding light in our department, helping establish the Environmental Technology MSc along with being a central figure in our research. Professor Jem Woods Director, Centre for Environmental Policy

He will be missed by hundreds of students from all over the world and will be fondly remembered not only for his rigorous, supportive and entertaining pedagogical approach, but also for knowing the name, country, thesis topic and career destination of pretty much every student who crossed his path across the years!

Nigel was someone who showed a keen interest in the person in front of him. Whether standing with a pint in the (now defunct) Southside Bar, or at the edge of field study site, Nigel always showed an interest in others, ready to hear their stories, and he also had plenty of stories of his own which students found disarming and helpful in enabling them to tackle the challenges of postgraduate education in the Big Smoke (a topic on which Nigel also had plenty of expertise). These characteristics are what made Nigel an outstanding Director of the MSc Environmental Technology, convenor of the Pollution Management Option and Director of Careers and Alumni – he knew everyone, everywhere.

Born in 1943 in Derby, Nigel attended local grammar schools. He graduated from the University of Manchester with his BSc and PhD in Botany (1961-1968) with a master’s degree from University of Waterloo, in Canada, in between. He joined Imperial College London in 1970, preceded by two years at Bedford College (now Royal Holloway University) as a Research Assistant.

Nigel carried out research for over 42 years on the effects of air pollution on crops, trees, native vegetation, mosses, lichens, herbivorous insect pests and plant fungal and viral pathogens in both the UK and a number of developing countries. He was active in research into contaminant pathways in the environment, particularly radionuclides (many students will remember his fascinating slide show from his field work in Chernobyl), predicting dose to humans via air-soil-plant pathways.

In addition, he had interests in other environmental management issues, including life cycle assessment and environmental auditing. He had been specialist adviser 7 times to enquiries of House of Commons and House of Lords Select Committees in the UK and had been a visiting academic at several other universities including the University of Waterloo, Canada. Before his retirement in 2019 Nigel was involved in the advancement of new ways of ‘doing science’ through engagement with citizens on the OPAL project, very much coming full circle in teaching others how to use the environment as a natural indicator of adverse anthropogenic impact.

Nigel will be sorely missed, and we will continue to be inspired by his dedication to environmental research and the warmth and support he showed to others.

We invite you to share your thoughts, memories, and tributes to Professor Nigel Bell on this page. Your messages will help celebrate his life and legacy.