Peter Robertson

Peter RobertsonBSc. (Hons), D.Phil., D.Sc., C.Chem., C.Sci., FRSC., FICI, C. Eng. FEI..

Professor of Chemical Engineering, Queens University Belfast.

A native of Belfast, Professor Robertson originally studied Chemistry and Economics at the University of Ulster, where he also obtained his D.Phil and D.Sc. On completing this Professor Robertson joined the Faraday Centre a spinout company from Carlow Institute of Technology in Ireland. In March 1991 he moved to the Northern Ireland Civil Service as a Higher Scientific Officer attached to the Industrial Research and Technology Unit.

Professor Robertson joined the staff of the School of Applied Sciences at Robert Gordon University in September 1995 where he was involved in teaching and research in environmental science and technology, analytical science and photocatalysis. In July 2000 Professor Robertson was appointed to the Chair of Energy and Environmental Engineering in the School of Mechanical and Offshore Engineering at RGU where he established the multidisciplinary Centre for Research in Energy and the Environment.  Professor Robertson subsequently was appointed as Vice-Principal and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation) at Robert Gordon University in September 2006. In this role he had responsible for setting and implementing the Research, Knowledge Transfer and Commercialisation Strategy for the University. In August 2012 his role at RGU was redefined as Vice-Principal and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Academic Support Services). In January 2015 Prof Robertson joined the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Queen’s University Belfast as Professor of Chemical Engineering and took up the post of Head of School in March 2016. His main research interests are in semiconductor photochemistry for energy and environmental applications.

Professor Robertson was a non-executive director of Gas2 Ltd (2012-2014) and Aberdeen’s Satrosphere Science Centre (2006-2014). In 2013 he was appointed to the Detao Masters Academy in Beijing as a Master in Photocatalytic Technology. Since 2006 he has been a member of the Universities Scotland Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee and was a member of the Northern Ireland Water Council between 2003-2007. Professor Robertson was the Director of Short Term Scientific Missions for European COST Action 540, “PHONASUM-Photocatalytic Technologies and Novel Nanosurfaces Materials” and UK representative to the Management Committee of this COST Action (2006-2010). Professor Robertson is a member of the editorial board of the International Journal of Photoenergy, the Central European Journal of Engineering and Invited Editor of The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry Series Published by Springer Verlag, specifically co-editor of the Volumes on Environmental Photochemistry. Professor Robertson is Chartered Engineer, Chartered Scientist and Chartered Chemist, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Institute of Chemistry in Ireland and the Energy Institute. He is also an Associate Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers.

Professor Robertson is married to Dr Jeanette Robertson, whom he met while they were both students at the University of Ulster. They have two young sons Callum and Keir. He is a keen photographer, particularly landscape photography, which he combines with walking his Beagle, Clodagh.

Contact information

Email: [email protected]

Head of School
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Queen’s University Belfast
David Keir Building
Stranmillis Road
Belfast
BT9 5AG

http://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofChemistryandChemicalEngineering/