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Your summer news and events from the Department of Zoology...


Zoology alumni newsletter summer 2018

Dear alumnus/na,

Warm greetings for the summer of 2018! In this edition, we have some very positive news to report, including:

— a major donation for an endowed University Lectureship in Marine Biology
— the successful reopening of the University Museum of Zoology.

We hope that lots of you will attend our Zoology Alumni and Friends Open Day on Saturday 15 September 2018.

We have planned an exciting programme of events. And they are all free-of-charge!

Yours,

William Foster
Director of Alumni Relations

New University Lectureship in Marine Biology

From l-r: Dr William Foster, Claire Barnes and Dr Howard Baylis

We are excited to announce the establishment of a new, endowed University Lectureship in Marine Biology in the Department, with the intention of re-establishing the Department as a centre of excellence in the research and teaching of marine biology.

The Lectureship has been made possible by a donation from University alumna Claire Barnes (seen above with Dr William Foster and Dr Howard Baylis), following discussions with William and other participants on a voyage in Indonesia in November 2017. The trip was led by conservationist Dr Tony Whitten who, shortly after his return to Cambridge following the cruise, was tragically killed in a cycling accident.

Claire and William would like the announcement of this Lectureship to act as a tribute to Tony Whitten. It is in celebration of his brilliant work as an ecologist, as an effective practical conservation scientist, as a passionate advocate for some of the world’s less charismatic creatures, and as an inspiring, energetic and tireless educator, tour leader and friend.

The post is now being advertised, with the intention of making an appointment in the coming academic year.

See role profile

Sir David Attenborough reopens the Museum of Zoology

We were honoured to have Sir David Attenborough (Clare 1945) come back to Cambridge on 22 June to open the doors to Museum of Zoology after its £4.1 million redevelopment. Describing the new displays, he called them “ravishingly beautiful“ and advised the audience to “go forth and investigate – be inspired by the diversity of the animal kingdom”.

After the formal opening, Sir David was joined by TV presenter Liz Bonnin for a question-and-answer session. Questions were posed by the Young Zoologist Club, Museum volunteers and Part II students. "If you could borrow one evolutionary adaptation from any animal, which would it be?", Sir David was asked. His answer: "see in the dark"!

Dr Andrea Manica with his Scientific Medal

Two Zoological Society of London honours for Department members

Dr Claire Spottiswoode, who won the Scientific Medal in 2017, has been chosen to deliver the Stamford Raffles lecture. The lecture is the foremost event in the ZSL's annual programme of Science and Conservation events.

Dr Andrea Manica (Part II 1996-97, seen left), having previously won the ZSL's Thomas Henry Huxley and Marsh Prize for his PhD research in 2002, has been awarded the prestigious Scientific Medal 2018. The Medal is given to research scientists with up to 15 years postdoctoral experience, for distinguished work in zoology.

Research impact

Making rational conservation happen: reasons for optimism

A global, multi-language survey of scientists, policymakers and practitioners reveals unexpected agreement about why evidence-based conservation is often not implemented. The survey by individuals from across the Cambridge Conservation Initiative, published in Conservation Letters, revealed that the main barrier was the low priority of conservation science in public policy.

The solution may not be easy, but at least there is agreement about what needs to be done: to reach out beyond the siloes of academia to convince the wider public about the urgent need to tackle the challenges of conservation.

Social complexity: mammals and insects do it differently

A recent article by Dr Dieter Lukas and Professor Tim Clutton-Brock in Ecology Letters aims to clarify the different ways in which we might define the complexity of animal societies. Cooperative complexity implies a clear distinction between helpers and breeders, and is associated with high female relatedness. Relational complexity implies diverse social relationships, dominance hierarchies and conflicts, and is usually associated with low levels of female kinship. Most complex insect societies are of the first type; most complex mammal societies are of the second.

Oldest genetic evidence of Hepatitis B virus found in DNA from 4,500 year-old skeletons

A pioneering study has established that Hepatitis B affected people as far back as the Bronze Age and has proved that particular viral strains can become extinct. The study was led by scientists at the Centre for Pathogen Evolution in the Department and at the Centre for GeoGenetics at the University of Copenhagen. Barbara Mühlemann, joint first author and a graduate student in the Department said: "We have shown that it is possible to recover viral sequences from samples of this age, which will have much wider scientific implications". The demonstration that we can interrogate the 'fossil' history of a virus has the potential to transform our understanding of their evolution.

Alumni news

Jack Ashby with a Thorny Devil in Australia

Jack Ashby (Part II 2002-03)

Just before the Museum reopened we appointed a new museum manager, Jack Ashby. As a former Part II student, Jack knows the Department well. Find out what inspired him to work in museums and who might play him in a biopic.

Read Q&A with Jack

Arise, Sir Simon Keenlyside

We send our warmest congratulations to baritone Simon Keenlyside (Part II 1982-83), who has been knighted for services to music in the Queen's Birthday Honours List 2018.

Simon has always been a vocal supporter of the Department. Some alumni will remember him wishing us 'Happy Birthday' on the occasion of our 150th anniversary in October 2016, during a live global cinema relay of Mozart's 'Don Giovanni', in which he sang the title role.

Honorary Degree for Dame Frances Ashcroft

We offer our hearty congratulations to Dame Frances Ashcroft (Part II 1973-74), who in a ceremony on 21 June received an Honorary Degree, the highest accolade the University can bestow. She was awarded a Doctorate in Medical Science for her achievements, including discoveries about the function and structure of ion channels and the role that certain channels play in insulin secretion and type 2 diabetes.

Dame Frances is a very active supporter of our alumni programme in the Department; she hosted the question-and-answer session with Sir David Attenborough at our 150th Anniversary celebrations in 2016.

Biographies of zoologists

Adam Sedgwick: the second Professor of Zoology

Adam Sedgwick (1854-1913) was our shortest-serving Professor of Zoology. He was in post for just two years between 1907 and 1909, but for a significant period before that was the central figure who continued the embryological and morphological research and teaching programme in the Department after the early death, at 30, of Frank Balfour in 1882.

Read bio by Adrian Friday

Successful alumni trip to Wicken Fen

Our sell-out inaugural alumni field trip was a great succes: it took place on a beautiful sunny day in early June and Professor Nick Davies delighted the whole group with his cuckoo calls and 'pishing' for reed warblers. The cuckoos and reed warblers had also done their job and provided the group with the perfect nest and egg scenario.

Zoology Alumni Day

Revisit the Department on 15 September 2018, 10.30am – 5.30pm

We would be delighted to see you back in the Department. There will be several free events laid on including:

— Research Lab tours
— tours of the Museum Stores
— an art trail
— rare zoology books – hands-on
— a talk on meerkats and molerats by Professor Tim Clutton-Brock
— afternoon tea

Find out more and book >

Our campaign for the University and Colleges of Cambridge is raising funds to attract the brightest minds, create the finest facilities and give the freedom to create more world-changing ideas. To do this, we need your help.

Department of Zoology

Call: +44 (0)1223 336600
Email: alumni@zoo.cam.ac.uk

Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom