Ilkka Hanski
Encyclopedia
Ilkka A. Hanski FRS (born 14 February 1953) is a Finnish scientist, working in the field of ecology
, at Helsinki University, Finland. The Metapopulation Research Group led by Hanski has been nominated as a Center of Excellence by the Academy of Finland. The group studies species living in fragmented landscapes and attempts to advance such research of metapopulation
ecology that can be applied to preserving nature. Metapopulation ecology itself studies populations of plants and animals which are separated in space by occupying patches.
Ilkka Hanski took his Bachelor's degree and Licentiate's degree in the University of Helsinki in 1976 and Doctoral degree from the University of Oxford
in 1979. He was appointed as a docent
in the University of Helsinki
in 1981 and in the University of Joensuu in 1983. Hanski was a graduate student in Oxford from 1976 to 1979. He has worked in the Academy of Finland
from 1978 to 1988 as well as from 1991 to 1992. He worked as an acting professor of zoology
in the University of Helsinki from 1988 to 1991, and was appointed (full) professorship of zoology in 1993. Hanski has work as an Academy Professor of the Academy of Finland from 1996. In 2000 he was awarded the Balzan Prize
for Ecological Sciences. In 2000, he was elected a foreign members of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
. In June 2005, he was the second Finnish scientist ever made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of London. In April 2006, he was made an Honorary Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences
. He was awarded the Crafoord Prize
in biosciences 2011 “for his pioneering studies on how spatial variation affects the dynamics of animal and plant populations”.
Hanski is married and lives in Finland.
The central questions of metapopulation biology studies by Hanski have several practical applications. For example, understanding biodiversity and population variability is essential for practical work in conservation biology and in regional planning. Mathematical models developed by the Hanski group can be used to build and promote coexistence of Man and Nature, for instance in urban environments where planning of green areas bears importance.
The field research of the Glanville fritillary
butterfly in Ahvenanmaa is a well-known classical model system. The scientific literature produced by Hanski is rather enormous; the ISI Web of Knowledge database suggests that he is the author or co-author of more than 200 scientific articles and has edited several books. He is one of the most cited Finnish scientists.
Hanski is also an active advocate of nature and biodiversity, and he participates in public debates. His central view is that the responsibility of ecologists is not restricted to producing scientific information but includes avid participation in the processes using the information produced.
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...
, at Helsinki University, Finland. The Metapopulation Research Group led by Hanski has been nominated as a Center of Excellence by the Academy of Finland. The group studies species living in fragmented landscapes and attempts to advance such research of metapopulation
Metapopulation
A metapopulation consists of a group of spatially separated populations of the same species which interact at some level. The term metapopulation was coined by Richard Levins in 1970 to describe a model of population dynamics of insect pests in agricultural fields, but the idea has been most...
ecology that can be applied to preserving nature. Metapopulation ecology itself studies populations of plants and animals which are separated in space by occupying patches.
Ilkka Hanski took his Bachelor's degree and Licentiate's degree in the University of Helsinki in 1976 and Doctoral degree from the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
in 1979. He was appointed as a docent
Docent
Docent is a title at some European universities to denote a specific academic appointment within a set structure of academic ranks below professor . Docent is also used at some universities generically for a person who has the right to teach...
in the University of Helsinki
University of Helsinki
The University of Helsinki is a university located in Helsinki, Finland since 1829, but was founded in the city of Turku in 1640 as The Royal Academy of Turku, at that time part of the Swedish Empire. It is the oldest and largest university in Finland with the widest range of disciplines available...
in 1981 and in the University of Joensuu in 1983. Hanski was a graduate student in Oxford from 1976 to 1979. He has worked in the Academy of Finland
Academy of Finland
The Academy of Finland is a governmental funding body for scientific research in Finland. It is based in the Finnish capital, Helsinki. Yearly, the Academy administers over 260 million euros to Finnish research activities. Over 5,000 researchers are working on the projects supported by the academy...
from 1978 to 1988 as well as from 1991 to 1992. He worked as an acting professor of 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...
in the University of Helsinki from 1988 to 1991, and was appointed (full) professorship of zoology in 1993. Hanski has work as an Academy Professor of the Academy of Finland from 1996. In 2000 he was awarded the Balzan Prize
Balzan Prize
The International Balzan Prize Foundation awards four annual monetary prizes to people or organisations who have made outstanding achievements in the fields of humanities, natural sciences, culture, as well as for endeavours for peace and the brotherhood of man.-Rewards and assets:Each year the...
for Ecological Sciences. In 2000, he was elected a foreign members of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences or Kungliga Vetenskapsakademien is one of the Royal Academies of Sweden. The Academy is an independent, non-governmental scientific organization which acts to promote the sciences, primarily the natural sciences and mathematics.The Academy was founded on 2...
. In June 2005, he was the second Finnish scientist ever made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of London. In April 2006, he was made an Honorary Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
. He was awarded the Crafoord Prize
Crafoord Prize
The Crafoord Prize is an annual science prize established in 1980 by Holger Crafoord, a Swedish industrialist, and his wife Anna-Greta Crafoord...
in biosciences 2011 “for his pioneering studies on how spatial variation affects the dynamics of animal and plant populations”.
Hanski is married and lives in Finland.
The central questions of metapopulation biology studies by Hanski have several practical applications. For example, understanding biodiversity and population variability is essential for practical work in conservation biology and in regional planning. Mathematical models developed by the Hanski group can be used to build and promote coexistence of Man and Nature, for instance in urban environments where planning of green areas bears importance.
The field research of the Glanville fritillary
Glanville Fritillary
The Glanville Fritillary is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family.The animal spends most of its life as a black, spiny caterpillar. The orange patterned butterfly lives only a few weeks....
butterfly in Ahvenanmaa is a well-known classical model system. The scientific literature produced by Hanski is rather enormous; the ISI Web of Knowledge database suggests that he is the author or co-author of more than 200 scientific articles and has edited several books. He is one of the most cited Finnish scientists.
Hanski is also an active advocate of nature and biodiversity, and he participates in public debates. His central view is that the responsibility of ecologists is not restricted to producing scientific information but includes avid participation in the processes using the information produced.