More than just an excellent zoologist; Aubrey was in every sense a natural scientist with an infectious curiosity about the world around us—a true polymath
Professor Aubrey Manning, OBE, FRSE zoologist and broadcaster, was born on April 24, 1930. He died from cancer on October 20, 2018, aged 88. Aubrey was a zoologist of considerable distinction, specialising in animal behaviour. He was educated at Strode's School in Egham, at University College London, and then at Merton College, Oxford where he completed his DPhil under Niko Tinbergen.
He joined the University of Edinburgh as an assistant lecturer, held the Chair of Natural History from 1973-1997, and thereafter became Professor Emeritus. His main interests were animal behaviour, development and evolution, and he authored “An Introduction to Animal Behaviour”. He was involved with the Centre for Human Ecology from its inception at the University of Edinburgh in 1970. In 1997, a gallery in the Natural History Collection of Edinburgh University was named in his honour.
The hugely popular television series “Earth Story” was a milestone in the engagement of the public with modern Earth science. To get Aubrey to present this series was inspirational. He was the proxy for every viewer who wanted to ask a question but didn’t know quite what to ask. “Earth Story” opened to viewers the exciting story that we geologists take for granted; the emergence of that amazing paradigm Plate Tectonics! He recalled to me interviewing some of the people who contributed to the concept, not least Marie Tharp who, with Bruce Heezen, mapped out the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the 1950s. He said that for a biologist “it was like talking with Darwin”!
Bill Bryson, in his “A short history of nearly everything” referred to Aubrey as “the English geologist” and we in the Geological Society of London were delighted to make that right by electing Aubrey an Honorary Fellow in 2009. Aubrey relished the company of geologists. He was a great supporter of the Society and a Goodwill Ambassador for the “Year of Planet Earth”.
Aubrey went on to present other television and radio programmes, many of which bridged the arts and sciences. I have fond memories of a day out with Aubrey looking for graptolites for the radio programme “Sounds of Life”. His enthusiasm for all aspects of the natural world was boundless—we spent as much time looking at birds as we did the graptolites. He was of immense assistance to Dr Sandy Crosbie and me as we put on paper the scientific story for Dynamic Earth, the Edinburgh science centre focusing on Earth and environmental science.
Passionate about the role of humanity and its relationship with the natural world, Aubrey had a life-long concern about an ever-expanding population and its influence on nature. He was not afraid to address controversial issues, including how genetically modified crops and nuclear energy might be necessary for the long-term sustainability of the planet. Aubrey expressed his arguments clearly and cogently, with a respect for others’ views.
As a teacher, he was inspirational and generations of students remember him with boundless affection. His ability to excite and enthral put him in constant demand as a speaker. His legacy is that all he came in touch with left with a new understanding of the natural world and some of Aubrey’s concerns for its future.
Of late, there have been many obituaries for Aubrey documenting his many contributions as a zoologist, lover of nature, television presenter and teacher. Here it is a privilege to document what he has done for Earth science. Aubrey will be fondly remembered by all whose lives he touched but especially by his wife, Joan and his three sons.
By Prof Stuart K Monro, OBE, FRSE
(The full version of this obituary appears below.
Editor).
Images reproduced by kind permission from the Wild Life Trust
Aubrey Manning (1930-2018)
Professor Aubrey Manning, OBE, FRSE zoologist and broadcaster, was born on April 24, 1930. He died from cancer on October 20, 2018, aged 88. Aubrey was a zoologist of considerable distinction, specialising in animal behaviour. He was educated at Strode's School in Egham, at University College London where he read zoology and then at Merton College, Oxford where he completed his DPhil under Niko Tinbergen.
After National Service he joined the University of Edinburgh as an assistant lecturer and held the Chair of Natural History at the university from 1973-1997, thereafter becoming Professor Emeritus. His main research and teaching interests were on animal behaviour, development and evolution, and he was the author of “An Introduction to Animal Behaviour”, which is now in its fifth edition.
Aubrey was passionate about all aspects of the environment and particularly about the influence of humanity as part of the ecosystem. He was involved with the Centre for Human Ecology from its inception at the University of Edinburgh in 1970. In December 1997, on his retirement, a gallery in the Natural History Collection of Edinburgh University was named in his honour. He was more than just an excellent zoologist; he was in every sense a natural scientist with an infectious curiosity about the world around us—a true polymath.
The hugely popular television series “Earth Story” was a milestone in the engagement of the public with modern Earth science. To get Aubrey to present this series was inspirational. He was the proxy for every viewer who wanted to ask a question but didn’t know quite what to ask. For him, as for the viewer, the story of the Earth, as revealed in the series, was a revelation and a different way altogether of looking at how the Earth works. Aubrey set a new standard in communicating Earth science. “Earth Story” opened to the viewers the exciting story that we geologists take very much for granted; namely the emergence of that amazing paradigm Plate Tectonics! I recall him telling me about meeting some of the people who had contributed to the concept, to obtain interviews for the programme, not least Marie Tharp who, with Bruce Heezen, mapped out the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the 1950s. He said that for a biologist “it was like talking with Darwin”!
Bill Bryson, in his “A short history of nearly everything” referred to Aubrey as “the English geologist” and, of course, we in the Geological Society of London were delighted to make that right by electing Aubrey an Honorary Fellow in 2009. Aubrey loved to be referred to as an honorary geologist and relished the company and conversation of geologists. He took a prominent part in promoting the “Year of Planet Earth” as a Goodwill Ambassador and was a great supporter of the Society in its anniversary year.
Aubrey went on to present other television and radio programmes many of which bridged the arts and the sciences. I have fond memories of a day out with Aubrey looking for graptolites at Dobb’s Linn as part of a radio programme, the “Sounds of Life”. His enthusiasm for all aspects of the natural world was boundless and we spent as much time looking at the birds as we did the graptolites. He was of immense assistance to Dr Sandy Crosbie and me as we put on paper the scientific story for Dynamic Earth, the Edinburgh science centre focusing on Earth and environmental science. Aubrey was passionate about the role of humanity and its relationship with the natural world. He had a life-long concern about an ever-expanding population and how this would affect the rest of nature with whom we share the planet. He was not afraid to address such controversial issues, including how genetically modified crops and nuclear energy might be necessary for the long-term sustainability of the planet and its population. In addressing these issues, Aubrey expressed his arguments clearly and cogently, with a respect for the views of others.
As a teacher, he was inspirational and generations of students whom Aubrey could never recall would remember him with boundless affection. Outside the University, his ability to excite and enthral put him in constant demand as a speaker. His legacy is that all he came in touch with left with a new understanding of the natural world and some of Aubrey’s concerns for its future.
Of late, there have been many obituaries for Aubrey documenting his many contributions as a zoologist, as a lover of nature, as a television presenter, as a teacher and here it is a privilege to document what he has done for Earth science. Aubrey will be fondly remembered by all whose lives he touched but especially by his wife, Joan and his three sons.
By Prof Stuart K Monro, OBE, FRSE