Dr Richard R Kirby

Dr Richard Kirby studied zoology for his first degree at Exeter University and then obtained a PhD in genetics from University College, London, in 1992. He worked subsequently in the United States, first at Hopkins Marine Station and then at the Belle W Baruch Institute of Marine Science. Since 2003 he has held a Royal Society Research Fellowship at the University of Plymouth in the UK. A molecular geneticist, his research interests focus on the plankton, primarily understanding their diversity, biogeography and evolution, and how their communities are influenced by current global climate change.

Richard has just returned from Brazil where, along with Professor Marcelo Knobel from the university of Campinas, Sao Paulo he organised the UK-Brazil Frontiers of Science symposium which was one of the major international events of the Royal Society's 350th anniversary year. The meeting brought together outstanding early-career scientists from both countries for a multidisciplinary conference with the aim to encourage informal networking and discussion, and to explore opportunities for international and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Following the meeting Richard was funded by the British Council to visit the new marine station of the Federal University of Espirito Santo with the purpose of establishing new collaborative research links between the UK and Brazil.

Dr Richard R Kirby
Royal Society University Research Fellow
Marine Biological Association

Latest Open Access articles
http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/276/1676/4095.full
http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/early/2010/06/14/rsbl.2010.0394.full

Current Exhibitions
Ocean Drifters: http://www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/whats-on
Floating Zoo: http://www.seabird.org/events.asp?s=2&id=SSC-V10513