Walker, Donald   (1928 - )

Born on 14 May 1928 in Dewsbury, UK,

Donald Walker has made important contributions to ecology and palaeoecology, principally of tropical rainforests.

His earlier studies first provided a synthesis of late- and post-glacial vegetational history in Cumbria, UK.

He founded the Department of Biogeography and Geomorphology in the Australian National University.

He began pioneering research on the ecology and history of tropical rainforest, first in Papua New Guinea, then in north Australia and southern China, which has led to the revision of widely held views on the stability of tropical rainforests, the timing and magnitude of late-Quaternary climatic change in the tropics, and the age and nature of the impact of human activities.

He has also made original applications of statistical methods to the interpretation of palynological data.

Professional positions

- 1949 - Bachelor of Science (BSc), University of Sheffield, UK.
- 1952 - Master of Arts (MA), University of Cambridge, UK.
- 1952-1955 - Research Fellow at Clare College, Cambridge, UK.
- 1953-1955 - Commissioned Officer with the Royal Australian Air Force, Aust.
- 1954-Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Cambridge, UK.
- 1954-1960 - Senior Assistant in Research in the Botany School at the Cambridge University, UK.
- 1955-1960 - Captain with advisory duties for Scientific Adviser to the Army Council, - Army Reserve, UK.
- 1955-1960 - Official Fellow and Assistant Tutor at Clare College, UK.
- 1960-1968 - Reader/Professorial Fellow in Biogeography at the Research School of Pacific Studies at ANU, Aust.
- 1969-1980 - Head of the Department of Biogeography and Geomorphology at the Research School of Pacific Studies, ANU.
- 1969-1989 - Professor of Biogeography at the Research School of Pacific Studies, ANU.
- 1986-1989 - Head of the Department of Biogeography and Geomorphology at the Research School of Pacific Studies, ANU.

Source: Extracted from:
https://royalsociety.org/people/donald-walker-12470/
https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P002711b.htm
https://royalsociety.org/people/donald-walker-12470/
Portrait Photo: https://royalsociety.org/people/donald-walker-12470/

Collecting localities for 'Walker, D.' from AVH (2024)

Data from 981 specimens