* Joan Chandler, sociologist and deputy head of the University of Plymouth Graduate School, has been chosen to serve as chair of the British Sociological Association.

* Theo Viljoen, designated family judge at Watford County Court, has been appointed chairman of the Hertfordshire Family Forum, hosted by the University of Hertfordshire.

* Trish Livsey, former health visitor and leader of a project to introduce community children's nursing services to Cumbria, has been named head of children's nursing at St Bartholomew School of Nursing and Midwifery, City University, London.

* Alexander Bird, currently at the University of Edinburgh, has been appointed to a chair in philosophy at the University of Bristol.

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* Rob Cuthbert, deputy vice-chancellor at the University of the West of England, has been named a member of the Higher Education Funding Council for England's widening participation strategic committee.

* Clare Willsdon, senior lecturer in history of art at the University of Glasgow, has won the 2002-03 book prize from the Historians of British Art, a US organisation affiliated to the College Art Association.

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* Neil Cossons, chairman of English Heritage and former director of the Science Museum, has been appointed president of the Royal Geographical Society.

* Anthony Elliott, professor of social and political theory and director of the centre for critical theory at the University of the West of England, has been appointed distinguished visiting fellow in the faculty of social sciences and humanities at La Trobe University, ߣߣÊÓƵ.