John Krebs, Baron Krebs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Krebs
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Lord Krebs' official parliamentary photo
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| 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 |
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| Assumed office 28 March 2007 Life peerage |
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John Richard Krebs, also known as Lord Krebs, was born on April 11, 1945. He is a famous English zoologist who studies how animals behave in their natural environments. He is especially interested in birds.
Lord Krebs was the head of Jesus College, Oxford, from 2005 to 2015. He also served as the President of the British Science Association from 2012 to 2013.
Contents
Early Life and Education
John Krebs is the son of Sir Hans Adolf Krebs. His father was a German biochemist who discovered the citric acid cycle, which explains how cells get energy.
John Krebs went to the City of Oxford High School. He then studied at Pembroke College, Oxford. He earned his first degree in 1966 and later received his PhD in 1970.
Career Highlights
After finishing his studies, John Krebs worked at the University of British Columbia and the University College of North Wales. He later returned to University of Oxford as a lecturer in Zoology.
Becoming a Fellow of the Royal Society
In 1984, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very important honor for scientists in the UK. From 1988 to 2005, he was a special research professor at the University of Oxford.
Leadership Roles
Lord Krebs was the chief executive of the Natural Environment Research Council from 1994 to 1999. This organization supports research about the environment. In 1999, he was made a Knight Bachelor, which means he received the title "Sir."
From 2000 to 2005, he was the first chairman of the Food Standards Agency in Britain. This agency makes sure that food is safe and healthy for people to eat.
Joining the House of Lords
In 2007, Lord 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 "cross-bencher," meaning he does not belong to a specific political party.
Research in Ornithology
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 the study of birds.
He used special models to predict how birds search for food. He also used techniques from neurobiology (the study of the nervous system) and experimental psychology to understand how smart birds are. He looked at how their brain structure relates to their mental abilities.
Views on Food and Farming
While he was chairman of the Food Standards Agency, Lord Krebs shared his opinion on organic food. He said that people buying organic food were not getting extra nutritional quality or safety for their money. He explained that there was no scientific evidence to support those claims at the time.
Lord Krebs also became an expert on bovine tuberculosis, a disease that affects cattle. He led trials related to badger culling, which is when badgers are killed to control the disease. Based on his findings, he did not support further badger culling in 2012.
Other Important Contributions
From 2006 to 2007, Lord Krebs was part of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics. He led a group that studied Public Health. 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 his important scientific work and leadership, Lord Krebs has received honorary doctorates from 16 universities. He was also elected to the American Philosophical Society in 2000.
Public Lectures
In 2005, Lord Krebs gave the famous Royal Institution Christmas Lectures. These lectures are for young people and are broadcast on television. His lectures were titled The Truth About Food.
Key Publications
Lord Krebs has written or co-written several important books and articles, including:
- Foraging Theory (1986) with D. W. Stephens. This book explores how animals decide where and what to eat.
- An Introduction to Behavioural Ecology (1993) with N.B. Davies. This book is a popular textbook about how animals behave in their environment.
- Behavioural Ecology: An Evolutionary Approach (1997) with N.B. Davies. This book looks at how animal behavior has changed over time through evolution.
