One of Britain’s leading environmental researchers has been chosen by Gordon Brown as the Government’s new chief scientist, The Times has learnt.

John Beddington, Professor of Applied Population Biology at Imperial College, London, will succeed Professor Sir David King as the Chief Scientific Adviser when he steps down at the end of the year.

Professor Beddington, who originally trained as an economist, specialises in applying economics and biology to the sustainable management of renewable resources, particularly fisheries.

He has considerable experience in advising ministers on scientific and environmental issues, as chairman of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ science advisory panel.

He is also a member of the equivalent body for the Ministry of Defence and the Natural Environment Research Council, and has advised the European Commission and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation.

The appointment of an eminent environmental scientist to the influential Whitehall job reflects the growing importance of green issues to the Government’s science agenda.

Though Professor King is a chemist by background, green issues have dominated his tenure as chief scientist. He took up the job in the middle of the 2001 foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, and won the trust of Tony Blair for turning around the Government’s response, and he has been closely associated with shaping policy on global warming.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills, which includes the chief scientist’s office, said last night that the appointment process for Sir David’s successor was continuing and that no announcement was imminent.

The Times understands, however, that Professor Beddington has been personally approved by the Prime Minister, and that the scientist has accepted the job.

Professor Beddington was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2001 and was awarded the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George by the Queen in 2004, in recognition of his services to fisheries management.

He is currently abroad and was unavailable for comment yesterday.

Stephen Cox, executive director of the Royal Society, said: “John Beddington is a very well-respected scientist and with a broad range of experience in research and in government.

“Were he to be appointed as the Chief Scientific Adviser it would be warmly welcomed by the scientific community.”

Professor Beddington will be responsible for advising the Prime Minister and the Cabinet on a broad range of scientific issues. Early areas for his input are likely to include international climate change negotiations and decisions on a national nuclear waste dump and a new generation of nuclear power stations.

He will also head the newly established Government Office for Science, which seeks to improve the quality of scientific evidence to make decisions across Whitehall, and lead the Foresight project that aims to investigate emerging scientific issues before they become politically controversial.

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