Philip Campbell has spent most of his career as a professional editor in science publishing. After post-doctoral research in upper-atmospheric physics at the University of Leicester, he became Physical Sciences Editor at Nature, and then the founding Editor-in-Chief of Physics World at the UK's Institute of Physics. In 1995 he was appointed Editor-in-Chief of Nature. From 2018 he was the Editor-in-Chief of Nature's publisher Springer Nature. He retired from science publishing in 2023.
While at Nature, alongside his proactive interests within the natural and social sciences, he spearheaded editorial content and new multidisciplinary journals dedicated to research directly addressing societal challenges. He also championed scientific mentoring and good lab management. He has been awarded honorary degrees, is an Honorary Fellow of Clare Hall Cambridge University, and was knighted for services to science in 2015. In 2019 he was given the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Association of British Science Writers.
Since his retirement, his work in the UK and international research landscapes has included advising about research assessment, and advocacy for mental health research and policy, especially in the context of climate change.
Subject groups
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Astronomy and Physics
Astronomy, Astrophysics, Cosmology, Elementary particle physics, Gravitation, Solar physics
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Engineering and Materials Science
Engineering, aeronautical
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Earth and Environmental Sciences
Atmospheric chemistry, Atmospheric physics and meteorology, Chemical oceanography, Climate sciences, Ionospheric physics, Physical oceanography, Planetary science
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Multicellular Organisms
Experimental psychology
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Patterns in Populations
Ecology (incl behavioural ecology)
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Health and Human Sciences
Clinical neuroscience, Social behaviour
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Other
Public engagement, Publications, Science policy, Scientific information provision, Other interests
