Professor Whitaker appointed at Cardiff University

Professor David Whitaker (pictured) has been appointed to the role of professor and director of teaching and learning at Cardiff University’s School of Optometry and Vision Sciences.

He steps down from his role as professor of vision science at the University of Bradford to take up the position.

Well-known in the profession, Professor Whitaker is a past vice president of the AOP and was awarded life membership to the association in 2014. He is also previous chair of the education visitor panel of the General Optical Council.

Welcoming professor Whitaker to Cardiff, head of the School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, professor Marcela Votruba, told OT: “The school is delighted to have appointed professor David Whitaker to a personal chair, starting in the next academic year 2015–16.

“Professor Whitaker is a highly respected senior academic and optometrist, with considerable experience in academic leadership and a significant national reputation in educational and professional matters.”

Professor Whitaker completed his PhD at the University of Bradford in 1987, going on to teach at Aston University for seven years. He subsequently returned to the University of Bradford, where he was appointed professor in 2000.

During his career, Professor Whitaker has published more than 100 papers, with particular interest in changes in vision with increasing age, visual illusions, peripheral vision, and the interaction between vision and other senses in the human perception of time.

Professor Votruba added that Professor Whitaker’s academic interests are “an excellent fit with ongoing research in Cardiff University and the School of Optometry and Vision Sciences can foresee fruitful collaborations.”