Lifetime track in biology
2007 – Honorary Professor of Taxonomy, DICE, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK
2005 – 2008 Fellow, UK National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts
2004 – Scientific Associate, Natural History Museum, London, UK
2003 – Doctor of Science (honoris causa), University of Copenhagen
1998 – 2004 Keeper of Entomology, Natural History Museum, London, UK
1993 – Fellow of Institute for Advanced Study, Berlin
1990 – 1997 Founder and Head of Biogeography & Conservation Laboratory, Natural History Museum, London, UK
1984 – 1990 Deputy Head of Entomology Department, Natural History Museum [BMNH], London, UK
1967 – 1984 Head of Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera Section, Entomology Department, British Museum (Natural History), London
1963 – 1967 BSc (1st Class Honours) Zoology, University College London, London, UK
1961 – 1963 Assistant (Scientific), Entomology Department, British Museum (Natural History), London, UK
1960 – 1962 ‘A’-level zoology and botany
1949 – Interest in insects awakened on 7th birthday
Biological interests
* Systematist, specialising on taxonomy, biogeography, general biology and evolution of butterflies
* History of entomology, especially 18th century
* Philosophy of science, with special reference to organic evolution
* Since 1990, also specialising on biodiversity and conservation evaluation
* Since 2005, funded by NESTA, also specialising on worldviews, values and attitudes to biodiversity
Currently Vane-Wright is engaged on research for a diverse portfolio of books, including a short series on individual contemporary British artists inspired by nature, on the purpose and function of taxonomy, on butterfly biology, on the higher classification of butterflies, on particular 18th century entomologists, and, most substantially, a work on worldviews, values and attitudes to biodiversity. He is also involved with collaborative research on the systematics of various groups of tropical butterflies, butterflies of specific regions, and the biodiversity of beetles and midges in an urban park. In addition, he recently completed an editorial assignment for the Linnean Society of London concerning the role of behaviour in organic evolution – which according to him, in contrast to creationism or neo-Darwinian genetic hegemony, represents the “third way”.
