|
|
||
General information and editorial notes News and Notes: Head of Biological Survey to retire Summary of the Scientific Committee meeting Hugh Danks retires as Head of the BSC Project Update: Arthropods of Canadian Grasslands An overview and update of the Microgastrinae holdings in the CNC, Ottawa |
Hugh Danks retires as Head of the Biological Survey of Canada (Terrestrial Arthropods) As announced in the spring issue of this newsletter, Dr. Hugh V. Danks retired as Head of the Biological Survey of Canada (Terrestrial Arthropods), on August 31, 2007. Besides his daily involvement with the administrative and coordinating activities of the BSC, Hugh found time to collect and digest the contents of hundreds of articles on the physiological and ecological adaptations of insects. His uncanny ability to produce thought-provoking and thorough syntheses of many complex entomological issues made him well known internationally and not only drew attention to the BSC, but to Canadian entomology as well. He was frequently asked by scientific organizations around the world to make presentations on his insights. For synopses of Hugh’s scientific work, titles of presentations, and a list of his over 100 publications, see http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/english/danks.htm. Hugh has also been credited with stimulating the careers of dozens of entomologists across the country. There likely are few entomologists in Canada under the age of 40 who have not heard several of his seminars presented as part of his cross country tours to enhance the coordinating activities of the BSC. He also made a point of meeting nearly every graduate student after their presentations at annual meetings, offering them kind words of encouragement. Hugh was honoured by the ESC in 2003, for his contributions to Canadian entomology, when he was awarded the Gold Metal at the annual meeting in Kelowna, B. C. For a more general outline of Hugh’s career up to 2003 when he received the Entomological Society of Canada’s Gold Medal Award see the Bulletin of the Entomological Society of Canada: 35(4): 200-202, (2003). Sometimes life, or at least research, comes full circle and this certainly occurred with Hugh. For example, Hugh’s early work on seasonal adaptations was published in The Canadian Entomologist in 1971, and his continuous interest in the subject culminated in a series of review articles over the past few years. His most recent “The elements of seasonal adaptations in insects” appeared in the January issue of The Canadian Entomologist. Another of his early interests, the ecology of aquatic insects in cold climates, was revisited this year when he made a presentation on the topic at the annual meeting of the Royal Entomological Society of London, presented a keynote address at the 2007 International Symposium on the Ecophysiology of Ectotherms and Plants in Dunedin, New Zealand, and published the review article “How aquatic insects live in cold climates” in the July issue of The Canadian Entomologist. In addition, Hugh is currently working on a revised and expanded edition of The Bug Book and Bottle, (first published in 1987) that will be published by Workman Publishing in the spring of 2008. A farewell dinner in Hugh’s honour was held on April 19, 2007 in Ottawa and was attended by current members of the Biological Survey’s advisory Scientific Committee as well as local entomologists and representatives of the Canadian Museum of Nature and the Entomological Society of Canada. J.D. Shorthouse
|
|
| Back to top | Biological Survey of Canada (Terrestrial Arthropods) home page |
