John Krebs, Baron Krebs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Krebs
|
|
|---|---|
Lord Krebs' official parliamentary photo
|
|
| Born | 11 April 1945 |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | Pembroke College, Oxford |
| Spouse(s) | Sarah Phibbs |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Knight Bachelor (1999) Frink Medal (1996) Fellow of the Royal Society (1984) DPhil (1970) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Ornithology Ethology |
| Institutions | University of Oxford NERC Food Standards Agency University of British Columbia University College of North Wales |
| Thesis | A study of territorial behaviour in the Great tit Parus major L. (1970) |
| Doctoral advisor | John Michael Cullen |
| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal |
|
| Assumed office 28 March 2007 Life peerage |
|
John Richard Krebs, also known as Lord Krebs, born on April 11, 1945, is a well-known British zoologist. He studies how animals behave, especially birds. This field is called behavioural ecology. He was the head of Jesus College at Oxford University from 2005 to 2015. Lord Krebs also led the British Science Association from 2012 to 2013.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
John Krebs is the son of Sir Hans Adolf Krebs, a famous German biochemist. His father discovered how cells get and use energy, which is called the Krebs cycle. John went to the City of Oxford High School. Later, he studied at Pembroke College, Oxford University. He earned his first degree in 1966 and a higher degree (DPhil) in 1970.
Career and Research
John Krebs worked at the University of British Columbia and Bangor University. He then returned to Oxford University as a Zoology lecturer. In 1984, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a special honor for top scientists. From 1988 to 2005, he was a Royal Society Research Professor at Oxford.
Leading Science Organizations
From 1994 to 1999, he was the chief executive of the Natural Environment Research Council. This group helps fund research about the environment. In 1999, he was made a knight by the Queen. This gave him the title "Sir John Krebs."
From 2000 to 2005, he was the first chairman of the British Food Standards Agency. This agency makes sure food is safe and healthy for people to eat.
Joining the House of Lords
In 2007, John Krebs became a life peer. This means he was given the title of Baron Krebs and became a member of the House of Lords. The House of Lords is part of the UK Parliament. He sits as a non-party political member, known as a cross-bencher.
Studying Animal Behaviour
Lord Krebs is an expert in ornithology, which is the study of birds. He has written many scientific papers and books. His work has brought new ideas to ornithology. For example, he used models to predict how animals find food. He also used methods from neurobiology (the study of the brain) and experimental psychology to understand how birds think. He looked at how their brain structure relates to their mental abilities.
Views on Food and Farming
When he led the Food Standards Agency, Lord Krebs shared his opinion on organic food. He said that people buying organic food might not be getting extra nutritional quality or safety for their money. He explained that the agency did not have evidence to support those claims.
Lord Krebs also became an expert on bovine tuberculosis, a disease that affects cattle. He led trials about culling (removing) badgers to control the disease. Based on his findings, he later spoke against further badger culling in 2012.
Other Important Roles
From 2006 to 2007, Lord Krebs was part of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics. He led a group that looked at public health issues. He also chaired the National Network of Science Learning Centres starting in 2007. From 2009 to 2017, he was a member of the Committee on Climate Change. This group advises the UK government on how to deal with climate change. He also chaired its Adaptation Sub-Committee.
For all his important scientific work and leadership, Lord Krebs has received honorary doctorates from 16 universities. In 2000, he was also elected to the American Philosophical Society.
Lectures and Publications
In 2005, Lord Krebs gave the famous Royal Institution Christmas Lectures. These lectures are for young people and are broadcast on TV. His lectures were titled The Truth About Food.
Key Books
Lord Krebs has written or co-written several important books about animal behaviour and ecology:
- Foraging Theory (1986) with D. W. Stephens.
- Foraging Behavior (1987) with Alan C. Kamil and H. Ronald Pulliam.
- An Introduction to Behavioural Ecology (1993) with N.B. Davies.
- Behavioural Ecology: An Evolutionary Approach (1997) with N.B. Davies.
