Bryan Patrick Beirne facts for kids

Bryan Patrick Beirne (born January 22, 1918 – died March 31, 1998) was an amazing Irish scientist who studied insects. He was called an entomologist. In 1949, he moved to Canada and became an expert in how to manage pests.

Bryan Beirne's Early Life and Education

Bryan was born in a place called Rosslare in County Wexford, Ireland. His interest in insects started when he was young. He loved collecting caterpillars and watching them turn into beautiful butterflies.

He went to school at Blackrock College in County Dublin. Bryan wasn't very interested in most school subjects, and he really didn't like sports! He even joked that he was very good at pretending to run towards a ball while actually running away from it.

When he was just 16, Bryan went to Trinity College Dublin. He was so smart that he created his own study plan. By the time he was 22, he had earned his Ph.D., which is a very high university degree. He even won a special scholarship called the Overseas Scholarship. In 1943, at 25, he became a full-time teacher at Trinity College.

Moving to Canada and Helping with Pest Control

In 1949, Bryan got an important job with the Canadian Government in Ottawa. He became a Senior Entomologist, which meant he was a top scientist studying insects. In 1955, he was chosen to be the director of a research center in Belleville, Ontario. This center focused on controlling pests using natural methods.

In 1967, Bryan and seven other scientists moved to Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Burnaby, British Columbia. There, they started something new called the Pestology Centre. This was the first special program where students could earn a Master's degree in Pest Management (MPM). At SFU, Dr. Beirne also became the Dean of Graduate Studies and a special professor called an Emeritus Professor of Pest Management.

Later Life and Achievements

Bryan retired in 1983, but he didn't stop working! He stayed connected with the university and started new businesses to help control pests. He also researched the history of pest control in both Canada and Ireland.

Dr. Beirne received many awards for his work. In 1944, he became a member of the Royal Irish Academy, which is a very respected group of scholars. He also won the gold medal from the Entomological Society of Canada and a special award for his whole career from the Science Council of British Columbia.

He traveled to more than 20 countries to give talks. He wrote over 15 books and more than 120 scientific papers! An entire group of insects, called Beirneola, was named after him. Many individual insect species were also named in his honor. He even discovered and named over 30 new species of insects that no one knew about before. His work helped many people and continues to be useful today. Even more important, he had a great influence on his family, friends, students, and colleagues.

Bryan Patrick Beirne passed away in Burnaby, British Columbia in 1998.

Bryan Beirne's Legacy

Simon Fraser University remembers Bryan Beirne with the "B.P. Beirne Prize in Pest Management." This award helps new students who are studying pest management. His family also remembers him for his book, "The Family O'Beirne," which he published in 1997. He also inspired "The O'Beirne Family Journal," which started in 1998.

Books by Bryan Beirne

• The Origin and History of British Fauna (1952)
• British Pyralid and Plume Moths (1952)
• Pest Management (1966)
• Irish Entomology (1985)
• He also wrote important lists of Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) and detailed studies on both Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera (like bees, wasps, and ants).