Andrew Lack
Encyclopedia
Dr Andrew John Lack is an English biologist
and author, specializing in botany
and based at Oxford Brookes University
.
Andrew Lack is the son of the ornithologist David Lack
(1910–1973). He was educated at the Dragon School
, Oxford
and Bryanston School
, Dorset
. He studied for an undergraduate degree in botany at Aberdeen University and obtained his doctorate, also in botany, from the University of Cambridge
.
He was a lecturer at Swansea University
for seven years. In 1987, he became a lecturer in biology
at Oxford Brookes University
where he contributed to modules taught on the Environmental Biology degree, along with contemporaries such as Denis Owen
.
Lack's research is in the area of plant reproductive
ecology
and genetics
, especially pollination
, tropical rain forest ecology, and the history and philosophy of the interaction of humans with the environment.
In 2008, he published the book Redbreast: The Robin in Life and Literature, a literary collection based on the Robin
. This was an updated version of a book published by his father, David Lack
.
Andrew Lack is married, has four children, and lives in Oxford. He leads the Isis Chamber Orchestra.
He has contributed to
Biologist
A biologist is a scientist devoted to and producing results in biology through the study of life. Typically biologists study organisms and their relationship to their environment. Biologists involved in basic research attempt to discover underlying mechanisms that govern how organisms work...
and author, specializing in botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
and based at Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University is a new university in Oxford, England. It was named to honour the school's founding principal, John Brookes. It has been ranked as the best new university by the Sunday Times University Guide 10 years in a row...
.
Andrew Lack is the son of the ornithologist David Lack
David Lack
David Lambert Lack FRS, was a British evolutionary biologist who made contributions to ornithology, ecology and ethology. His book on the finches of the Galapagos Islands was a landmark work.- Early life :...
(1910–1973). He was educated at the Dragon School
Dragon School
The Dragon School is a British coeducational, preparatory school in the city of Oxford, founded in 1877 as the Oxford Preparatory School, or OPS. It is primarily known as a boarding school, although it also takes day pupils...
, Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
and Bryanston School
Bryanston School
Bryanston School is a co-educational independent school for both day and boarding pupils in Blandford, north Dorset, England, near the village of Bryanston. It was founded in 1928...
, Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
. He studied for an undergraduate degree in botany at Aberdeen University and obtained his doctorate, also in botany, from the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
.
He was a lecturer at Swansea University
Swansea University
Swansea University is a university located in Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. Swansea University was chartered as University College of Swansea in 1920, as the fourth college of the University of Wales. In 1996, it changed its name to the University of Wales Swansea following structural changes...
for seven years. In 1987, he became a lecturer in biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
at Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University is a new university in Oxford, England. It was named to honour the school's founding principal, John Brookes. It has been ranked as the best new university by the Sunday Times University Guide 10 years in a row...
where he contributed to modules taught on the Environmental Biology degree, along with contemporaries such as Denis Owen
Denis Owen
Denis Frank Owen was a prominent British ecologist, naturalist, author, broadcaster and teacher. During his career he published 240 scientific papers, 40 popular articles and 10 books...
.
Lack's research is in the area of plant reproductive
Plant reproduction
Plant reproduction is the production of new individuals or offspring in plants, which can be accomplished by sexual or asexual means. Sexual reproduction produces offspring by the fusion of gametes, resulting in offspring genetically different from the parent or parents...
ecology
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
and genetics
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
, especially pollination
Pollination
Pollination is the process by which pollen is transferred in plants, thereby enabling fertilisation and sexual reproduction. Pollen grains transport the male gametes to where the female gamete are contained within the carpel; in gymnosperms the pollen is directly applied to the ovule itself...
, tropical rain forest ecology, and the history and philosophy of the interaction of humans with the environment.
In 2008, he published the book Redbreast: The Robin in Life and Literature, a literary collection based on the Robin
European Robin
The European Robin , most commonly known in Anglophone Europe simply as the Robin, is a small insectivorous passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family , but is now considered to be an Old World flycatcher...
. This was an updated version of a book published by his father, David Lack
David Lack
David Lambert Lack FRS, was a British evolutionary biologist who made contributions to ornithology, ecology and ethology. His book on the finches of the Galapagos Islands was a landmark work.- Early life :...
.
Andrew Lack is married, has four children, and lives in Oxford. He leads the Isis Chamber Orchestra.
Books
Lack has written the following books:- The Natural History of Pollination, with Michael Proctor and Peter Yeo (Harper Collins, New Naturalist series, No. 83, 1996, ISBN 978-0002199056)
- Instant Notes: Plant Biology, with David E. Evans (BIOS Scientific PublishersBIOS Scientific PublishersBIOS Scientific Publishers was an English publisher. The main offices were based at Milton Park near Abingdon, Oxfordshire, south of Oxford, England. The company specialised in biosciences....
, Instant Notes series, 2001, ISBN 978-0387916132) - The Museum Swifts, with Roy Overall (Oxford University Museum of Natural HistoryOxford University Museum of Natural HistoryThe Oxford University Museum of Natural History, sometimes known simply as the Oxford University Museum, is a museum displaying many of the University of Oxford's natural history specimens, located on Parks Road in Oxford, England. It also contains a lecture theatre which is used by the...
, 2002) - Instant Notes: Plant Biology, 2nd edition, with David E. Evans (Taylor & FrancisTaylor & FrancisTaylor & Francis Group is an international company originating in the United Kingdom which publishes books and academic journals. It is a division of Informa plc, a United Kingdom-based publisher and conference company.- Overview :...
, Instant Notes series, 2005, ISBN 978-0415356435) - Redbreast: The Robin in Life and Literature (SMH BooksSMH BooksSMH Books are a bookseller and book publisher, based in Arundel, West Sussex, England. They also provide international publishing and press release services....
, 2008, ISBN 978-0-9553827-2-7)
He has contributed to
- Silent Summer ed. Norman Maclean (Cambridge University PressCambridge University PressCambridge University Press is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge. Granted letters patent by Henry VIII in 1534, it is the world's oldest publishing house, and the second largest university press in the world...
2010, ISBN 978-0521519663) - Nature Tales comp. Michael Allen & Sonya Patel Ellis (Elliott and Thompson 2010, ISBN 978-1904027942)
External links
- Dr Andrew Lack home page
- Andrew Lack Fan Club, FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...