Denis Owen
Encyclopedia
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. His first paper was published in 1949 when he was just 18 years of age.
He left Roan Grammar School in Greenwich
when he was 16 and went to work at the British Museum (Natural History) where he worked in the Bird Room. After a couple of years here he left for National Service
. After this, Owen worked from 1951 to 1958 as a Field Assistant at the Edward Grey Institute for Field Ornithology, Oxford University, under its Director, the evolutionary biologist Dr David Lack
. Amongst other things, he was responsible for maintaining the records of tits at the famous Wytham Woods site . Lack recommended Owen for a Zoology
degree course Oxford. By the time Owen graduated, in 1958, he had already written 43 research papers. During this time he met his first wife Jennifer Owen (née Bak) who was also an undergraduate zoologist. The two collaborated on a number of research projects and married following their graduation in 1958. Both moved to the USA to become teaching fellows and PhD students at the University of Michigan
.
During four years in the USA, Owen completed his doctoral project on owls and also researched insect ecology, collecting the first New World
data on industrial melanism
in the peppered moth
as well as working on the ecological genetics of spittle bugs.
Owen's appointment as Lecturer in Zoology at the University College of Makerere (now Makerere University
), Uganda
in 1962 led to a four year stint in Africa, where he studied the ecological genetics of butterflies and snails. Upon leaving Uganda in 1966, he took up the Chair of Zoology at Fourah Bay College
, later to become the University of Sierra Leone
at the early age of 35. His research on butterfly ecology and genetics continued, culminating in his 1971 book, Tropical Butterflies. Between 1967–68 he was also Director of a UNESCO
Biology Teaching Project for Africa, based in Ghana
.
Owen's next move was in 1971 to the University of Lund as Professor of Tropical Ecology, continuing his research on tropical ecology, and also temperate and Arctic
ecology, including the genetics of Cepaea
snails in Iceland
. Owen's final appointment, in 1973, was as Principal Lecturer in Biology at Oxford Polytechnic later to become Oxford Brookes University
. By coincidence he worked closely with David Lack
's son Andrew Lack
, who was also employed in the same department. Denis Owen remained at Brookes until his retirement in 1996.
As well as carrying out his own research, Owen supervised or co-supervised over 20 PhD
students, may of whom went on to establish research careers of their own, including Dr Tim Shreeve (Oxford Brookes University
), Dr Rob Hammond (University of Leicester
), Dr Jeff Ollerton (University of Northampton
) and Professor Dave Goulson (University of Stirling
).
Owen's most famous book, What is Ecology?, was published in 1975. The second edition was revised by Jennifer Owen and subsequently translated into five languages. During this period Owen also gave radio broadcasts on Spanish natural history for the BBC World Service
(with John Burton
) as well as writing a series called What's in a Name?, published as a book by the BBC
.
Owen was a visiting professor at a number of international universities including the United Nations University
(1977–79), the University of Bergen
(1990–91) and the University of Florida
(1991–92).
His marriage to Jennifer Owen produced one son and one daughter, and was dissolved in 1994. Later that year he married Clare Shervington.
He left Roan Grammar School in Greenwich
Greenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
when he was 16 and went to work at the British Museum (Natural History) where he worked in the Bird Room. After a couple of years here he left for National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
. After this, Owen worked from 1951 to 1958 as a Field Assistant at the Edward Grey Institute for Field Ornithology, Oxford University, under its Director, the evolutionary biologist Dr 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 :...
. Amongst other things, he was responsible for maintaining the records of tits at the famous Wytham Woods site . Lack recommended Owen for a Zoology
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
degree course Oxford. By the time Owen graduated, in 1958, he had already written 43 research papers. During this time he met his first wife Jennifer Owen (née Bak) who was also an undergraduate zoologist. The two collaborated on a number of research projects and married following their graduation in 1958. Both moved to the USA to become teaching fellows and PhD students at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
.
During four years in the USA, Owen completed his doctoral project on owls and also researched insect ecology, collecting the first New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
data on industrial melanism
Melanism
Melanism is an undue development of dark-colored pigment in the skin or its appendages, and the opposite of albinism. It is also the medical term for black jaundice.The word is deduced from the , meaning black pigment....
in the peppered moth
Peppered moth
The peppered moth is a temperate species of night-flying moth. Peppered moth evolution is often used by educators as an example of natural selection.- Distribution :...
as well as working on the ecological genetics of spittle bugs.
Owen's appointment as Lecturer in Zoology at the University College of Makerere (now Makerere University
Makerere University
Makerere University , Uganda's largest and second-oldest higher institution of learning, , was first established as a technical school in 1922. In 1963 it became the University of East Africa, offering courses leading to general degrees from the University of London...
), Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
in 1962 led to a four year stint in Africa, where he studied the ecological genetics of butterflies and snails. Upon leaving Uganda in 1966, he took up the Chair of Zoology at Fourah Bay College
Fourah Bay College
Fourah Bay College is the oldest university college in West Africa. It is located atop Mount Aureol in Freetown, Sierra Leone...
, later to become the University of Sierra Leone
University of Sierra Leone
The University of Sierra Leone is the name of the former unitary public university system in Sierra Leone, which, as of May 2005, was reconstitued into the individual colleges of Fourah Bay College and Njala University. It is now affiliated to many colleges in Sierra Leone.-See also:* Fourah Bay...
at the early age of 35. His research on butterfly ecology and genetics continued, culminating in his 1971 book, Tropical Butterflies. Between 1967–68 he was also Director of a UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
Biology Teaching Project for Africa, based in Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
.
Owen's next move was in 1971 to the University of Lund as Professor of Tropical Ecology, continuing his research on tropical ecology, and also temperate and Arctic
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
ecology, including the genetics of Cepaea
Cepaea
Cepaea is a genus of medium-sized air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropods in the family Helicidae, the typical snails. The shells of species within this genus are often brightly colored and patterned with stripes....
snails in Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
. Owen's final appointment, in 1973, was as Principal Lecturer in Biology at Oxford Polytechnic later to become 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...
. By coincidence he worked closely with 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 :...
's son Andrew Lack
Andrew Lack
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 . He was educated at the Dragon School, Oxford and Bryanston School, Dorset...
, who was also employed in the same department. Denis Owen remained at Brookes until his retirement in 1996.
As well as carrying out his own research, Owen supervised or co-supervised over 20 PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
students, may of whom went on to establish research careers of their own, including Dr Tim Shreeve (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...
), Dr Rob Hammond (University of Leicester
University of Leicester
The University of Leicester is a research-led university based in Leicester, England. The main campus is a mile south of the city centre, adjacent to Victoria Park and Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College....
), Dr Jeff Ollerton (University of Northampton
University of Northampton
The University of Northampton is a university in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England.-History:In 1924, Northampton Technical College was opened at St George's Avenue, site of the current Avenue Campus. A new building for the college was formally opened by the then Duke and Duchess of York in 1932...
) and Professor Dave Goulson (University of Stirling
University of Stirling
The University of Stirling is a campus university founded by Royal charter in 1967, on the Airthrey Estate in Stirling, Scotland.-History and campus development:...
).
Owen's most famous book, What is Ecology?, was published in 1975. The second edition was revised by Jennifer Owen and subsequently translated into five languages. During this period Owen also gave radio broadcasts on Spanish natural history for the BBC World Service
BBC World Service
The BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
(with John Burton
John Burton
John Burton may refer to:*John Burton , British stage and television actor*John Burton , American slalom canoer*John Burton , co-founder of the nonprofit environmental organization World Land Trust...
) as well as writing a series called What's in a Name?, published as a book by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
.
Owen was a visiting professor at a number of international universities including the United Nations University
United Nations University
The United Nations University is an academic arm of the United Nations established in 1973, which serves purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The UNU undertakes research into the pressing global problems of human survival, development and welfare that are the concern of...
(1977–79), the University of Bergen
University of Bergen
The University of Bergen is located in Bergen, Norway. Although founded as late as 1946, academic activity had taken place at Bergen Museum as far back as 1825. The university today serves more than 14,500 students...
(1990–91) and the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
(1991–92).
His marriage to Jennifer Owen produced one son and one daughter, and was dissolved in 1994. Later that year he married Clare Shervington.