Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology
Encyclopedia
The Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology (EGI), at Oxford University, England
is an academic body which conducts research in ornithology
and the general field of evolutionary ecology
and conservation biology
, with an emphasis on understanding organisms in natural environments. It is named in honour of Edward Grey, 1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon
, a notable politician and ornithologist.
The Institute houses the Alexander Library, the best ornithological library in Europe and one of the best in the world, which is named after W. B. Alexander
.
, and Wilfred ('W. B.') Alexander
, and was initially founded to promote the economic study of ornithology. It took its name from Viscount Grey, at one time Chancellor of the University and UK Foreign Secretary, and a life-long birdwatcher, perhaps best known as the man who remarked, on the eve of the First World War:
"The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime"
The first Director of the fledgling Institute was W.B. Alexander
, remembered in the name of the EGI's library, the Alexander Library. Alexander was succeeded in 1945 by former school-teacher David Lack
, one of the pioneers of population biology
, who had already published The Life of the Robin. Lack served as Director until his death in 1973, working with field assistants such as Denis Owen
, and oversaw the growth of the EGI into an internationally known centre for research in to population biology of birds.
Lack was succeeded by Chris Perrins
in 1974, who continued as Director until his official retirement in 2002. During this time, work in the EGI expanded from the field of population biology to encompass the new field of behavioural ecology, with John Krebs
and Nick Davies (then at Oxford, now Professor of Behavioural Ecology at Cambridge) co-authoring the textbooks which defined the field. The EGI was also the centre for work on Birds of the Western Palearctic, up to its completion in 1990s, and became increasingly important as a training centre for ornithologists who went on to play important roles in Conservation.
Following Chris Perrins
's retirement, a major endowment in honour of Dr Luc Hoffmann's eightieth birthday led to the establishment of the Luc Hoffmann Chair in Field Ornithology. Ben Sheldon was elected as the first holder of this chair, and as Director of the EGI in 2004.
By the end of 2006, a total of 165 DPhil students had successfully defended their theses based on work carried out at the EGI; this number is at least matched by the number of postdoctoral and other research visitors who have spent time at the Institute. Scientific research work on birds has been conducted on all continents, and the major research themes of the EGI, population and evolutionary ecology of birds, have been supplemented by a very wide range of research activities.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
is an academic body which conducts research in ornithology
Ornithology
Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds...
and the general field of evolutionary ecology
Evolutionary ecology
Evolutionary ecology lies at the intersection of ecology and evolutionary biology. It approaches the study of ecology in a way that explicitly considers the evolutionary histories of species and the interactions between them. Conversely, it can be seen as an approach to the study of evolution that...
and conservation biology
Conservation biology
Conservation biology is the scientific study of the nature and status of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction...
, with an emphasis on understanding organisms in natural environments. It is named in honour of Edward Grey, 1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon
Edward Grey, 1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon
Edward Grey, 1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon KG, PC, FZL, DL , better known as Sir Edward Grey, Bt, was a British Liberal statesman. He served as Foreign Secretary from 1905 to 1916, the longest continuous tenure of any person in that office...
, a notable politician and ornithologist.
The Institute houses the Alexander Library, the best ornithological library in Europe and one of the best in the world, which is named after W. B. Alexander
Wilfred Backhouse Alexander
Wilfred Backhouse Alexander was an English ornithologist and entomologist. He was the brother of Horace Alexander....
.
History
The Edward Grey Institute (EGI) was founded in 1938, having grown out of the Oxford Bird Census, itself founded in 1927. It was the brainchild of Max Nicholson, Bernard TuckerBernard Tucker
Bernard William Tucker was an English ornithologist. He was lecturer in zoology at Oxford University, a long-time editor of British Birds and one of the authors of The Handbook of British Birds...
, and Wilfred ('W. B.') Alexander
Wilfred Backhouse Alexander
Wilfred Backhouse Alexander was an English ornithologist and entomologist. He was the brother of Horace Alexander....
, and was initially founded to promote the economic study of ornithology. It took its name from Viscount Grey, at one time Chancellor of the University and UK Foreign Secretary, and a life-long birdwatcher, perhaps best known as the man who remarked, on the eve of the First World War:
"The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime"
The first Director of the fledgling Institute was W.B. Alexander
Wilfred Backhouse Alexander
Wilfred Backhouse Alexander was an English ornithologist and entomologist. He was the brother of Horace Alexander....
, remembered in the name of the EGI's library, the Alexander Library. Alexander was succeeded in 1945 by former school-teacher 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 :...
, one of the pioneers of population biology
Population biology
Population biology is a study of populations of organisms, especially the regulation of population size, life history traits such as clutch size, and extinction...
, who had already published The Life of the Robin. Lack served as Director until his death in 1973, working with field assistants 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...
, and oversaw the growth of the EGI into an internationally known centre for research in to population biology of birds.
Lack was succeeded by Chris Perrins
Chris Perrins
Christopher Miles "Chris" Perrins, LVO, FRS is a British biologist. He is Leverhulme Emeritus Fellow at the Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology at Oxford University, and an Emeritus Fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford....
in 1974, who continued as Director until his official retirement in 2002. During this time, work in the EGI expanded from the field of population biology to encompass the new field of behavioural ecology, with John Krebs
John Krebs
John Richard Krebs, Baron Krebs FRS is a world leader in zoology and more specifically bird behaviour. He is currently the Principal of Jesus College, Oxford University...
and Nick Davies (then at Oxford, now Professor of Behavioural Ecology at Cambridge) co-authoring the textbooks which defined the field. The EGI was also the centre for work on Birds of the Western Palearctic, up to its completion in 1990s, and became increasingly important as a training centre for ornithologists who went on to play important roles in Conservation.
Following Chris Perrins
Chris Perrins
Christopher Miles "Chris" Perrins, LVO, FRS is a British biologist. He is Leverhulme Emeritus Fellow at the Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology at Oxford University, and an Emeritus Fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford....
's retirement, a major endowment in honour of Dr Luc Hoffmann's eightieth birthday led to the establishment of the Luc Hoffmann Chair in Field Ornithology. Ben Sheldon was elected as the first holder of this chair, and as Director of the EGI in 2004.
By the end of 2006, a total of 165 DPhil students had successfully defended their theses based on work carried out at the EGI; this number is at least matched by the number of postdoctoral and other research visitors who have spent time at the Institute. Scientific research work on birds has been conducted on all continents, and the major research themes of the EGI, population and evolutionary ecology of birds, have been supplemented by a very wide range of research activities.