Message from Professor Fiona Devine regarding Alistair Ulph
22 Oct 2024
Two weeks ago, I was greatly saddened to learn of the passing of our former colleague Emeritus Professor Alistair Ulph. He was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) earlier this year and died peacefully on 5 October 2024.
Professor Ulph was the first Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities following the merger of UMIST and The Victoria University of Manchester in 2004. Prior to that, he was Professor of Economics at the University of Southampton from 1985. He served as Deputy Vice Chancellor between 1995 and 2001.
As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, Alistair guided the University of Manchester and the Faculty of Humanities through a period of tremendous change. He recruited world-renowned figures, including biologist Sir John Sulston, economist Joseph Stiglitz, author Martin Amis and social scientist Robert Putman.
Under his leadership, 22% of the Faculty’s research was classified as world-leading and 40% internationally excellent in the 2008 RAE exercise. He also oversaw the doubling of the Faculty’s research income. Alistair led a Faculty of Humanities that enjoyed huge student demand for its UG and PGT programmes.
After stepping down from his role in 2010, Alistair’s dedication to higher education remained unwavering. Alongside numerous external roles, he remained an active contributor to the University of Manchester. He was Chair of the Board of Manchester University Press between 2013-2020.
He continued his world-renowned research with colleagues in the Department of Economics in the School of Social Sciences (SoSS) and the Sustainable Consumption Institute, a cross-disciplinary institute that straddles SoSS and Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS) in Humanities.
His research interests included environmental policy, welfare economics, and the economics of international ecological agreements. Alistair published and edited numerous books and wrote a large number of articles in prestigious journals, contributing to understanding how economic policies can address environmental issues.
His studies on the impact of carbon taxation on consumer behaviour and the role of risk aversion in international environmental agreements significantly influenced policies aimed at reducing carbon footprints and promoting sustainable consumption. He was made a Fellow of the European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists in 2019.
I know that many of us will have very happy memories of working alongside Alistair. He was a great intellect who would challenge you in the best way possible. He was an enormously warm and kind colleague too. We send our shared condolences to his family and friends.
There will be a private family funeral service for Alistair later this month.
Planning is in progress for an event to enable all those who knew him, from Manchester and further afield, to celebrate his life – as a renowned academic and esteemed leader – and share their memories. This is likely to take place in Spring 2025 and we will keep you updated with details.
In the meantime, a book of condolences has been organised so colleagues can share their memories. If you would like to contribute the book will be available to sign at Waterloo Place from tomorrow, Wednesday 23 October, until the end of the month. Alternatively, feel free to email facultyadministration@manchester.ac.uk and the team can add reflections to the book on your behalf.
Alistair was a keen environmentalist so rather than floral tributes, colleagues are invited to contribute towards the planting of a tree in his name at the Lovell Quinta Arboretum, Swettenham – a place of which his family have many happy memories.
Arrangements are also in place should colleagues wish to make donations in his honour to the MND Association and the John Muir Trust, two charities that meant a lot to Alistair.
You can make a contribution by contacting Alex at Dodgsons Funeral Services: 01565 634 251, alex@dodgsonfunerals.com.
Regards Fiona
Fiona Devine, Vice-President and Dean, Faculty of Humanities