Background
Hanski, Ilkka Aulis was born on February 14, 1953 in Tampere, Finland. Son of Leo A. and Lea I.A. (Arvonen) Hanski.
Hanski, Ilkka Aulis was born on February 14, 1953 in Tampere, Finland. Son of Leo A. and Lea I.A. (Arvonen) Hanski.
Bachelor of Science in Zoology, University Helsinki, 1976. Master of Science in Zoology, University Helsinki, Finland, 1976. Doctor of Philisophy in Zoology, Oxford University, England, 1979.
The Metapopulation Research Center led by Hanski has been nominated as a Center of Excellence by the Academy of Finland. The group studies species living in fragmented landscapes and attempts to advance such research of metapopulation ecology that can be applied to preserving nature. Metapopulation ecology itself studies populations of plants and animals which are separated in space by occupying patches.
Ilkka Hanski took his Bachelor"s degree and Licentiate"s degree in the University of Helsinki in 1976 and Doctoral degree from the University of Oxford in 1979.
He was appointed as a docent in the University of Helsinki in 1981 and in the University of Joensuu in 1983. Hanski was a graduate student in Oxford from 1976 to 1979.
He has worked in the Academy of Finland from 1978 to 1988 as well as from 1991 to 1992. He worked as an acting professor of zoology in the University of Helsinki from 1988 to 1991, and was appointed (full) professorship of zoology in 1993.
Hanski has served as an Academy Professor for the Academy of Finland from 1996 (also currently).
In 2000 he was awarded the Balzan Prize for Ecological Sciences. In June 2005, he was the second Finnish scientist ever made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of London. In April 2006, he was made an Honorary Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences.
He was awarded the Crafoord Prize in biosciences 2011 “for his pioneering studies on how spatial variation affects the dynamics of animal and plant populations”.
Hanski is married with three children and lives in Helsinki, Finland. The central questions of metapopulation biology studies by Hanski have several practical applications.
Foreign example, understanding biodiversity and population variability is essential for practical work in conservation biology and in regional planning. Mathematical models developed by the Hanski group can be used to build and promote coexistence of Manitoba and Nature, for instance in urban environments where planning of green areas bears importance.
The field research of the Glanville fritillary butterfly in Ahvenanmaa is a well-known classical model system.
The scientific literature produced by Hanski is rather enormous. The Inter-Services Intelligence Web of Knowledge database suggests that he is the author or co-author of more than 200 scientific articles and has edited several books He is one of the most cited Finnish scientists.
In September 2015 he received the honorary title of Academician of Science from the Academy of Finland.
Hanski is also an active advocate of nature and biodiversity, and he participates in public debates. His central view is that the responsibility of ecologists is not restricted to producing scientific information but includes avid participation in the processes using the information produced.
Hanski has obtained the 2015 Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Ecology and Conservation Biology for opening up an area of ecology that explains how species survive in fragmented habitats and allows to quantify extinction thresholds.
Board director Finnish Cultural Foundation, since 2001. Member of National Academy of Sciences (foreign associate), Royal Society (foreign member 2005), Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina 2002, Finnish Academy of Sciences and Letters, Royal Swedish Academy Sciences 2000, Academia Europea, American Academy Arts and Sciences (honorary.
Married Eeva Rebekka Furman, February 2, 1990. Children: Matti Joel, Eveliina Mikeala;1 child from previous marriage Katri Veronique.