(active 1982) Science Director Professor Hails recieved a BA Honours in Zoology from Oxford University and a MSc in Applied Entomology and PhD in insect population ecology from Imperial College London. In addition to her role as science director at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology she is a senior research associate of Oxford University and a frequent visiting professor at Oxford Brookes University. In June 2000, Hails was awarded an MBE for services to environmental research. In her role at the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology since 1992 Professor Hails has published more than 80 peer-reviewed papers. In 2012, Professor Hails was appointed to the Government’s Natural Capital Committee. Along with this, she also chairs the Natural Capital Initiative, a forum which focuses on how to apply the Ecosystem Approach to water and management of land.