Manchester Zoologist wins Linnean Society Medal

18 Nov 2010

The Faculty of Life Sciences hosted a dinner to honour Derek Yalden, who was recently awarded the highly prestigious Linnean Medal (formerly Gold Medal) of the Linnean Society of London, for his wide-ranging contributions to Zoology.

Derek, who retired from the University in 2005 and is currently Honorary Reader in the Faculty, is in good company – previous recipients of the medal include Sir Richard Owen (1888), Thomas Henry Huxley (1890), Alfred Russel Wallace (1892), Alfred Romer (1972) and W.D. Hamilton (1989).

Derek’s enthusiasm for his subject played a huge part in maintaining and developing Zoology as a discipline in Manchester. It is still strong – this year the University registered a record number of first year undergraduates on its BSc Zoology programme.

Old friends, colleagues and students from Derek’s 40 years at the University gathered together in the Christie Bistro to celebrate and honour his achievement.