From the Editor-in-Chief

Abstract

The aim of this series is to interest the general reader in the wildlife of Britain by recapturing the inquiring spirit of the old naturalists. The Editors believe that the natural pride of the British public in the native fauna and flora, to which must be added concern for their conservation, is best fostered by maintaining a high standard of accuracy combined with clarity of exposition in presenting the results of modern scientific research. One of my favorite books in the New Naturalist series was the 1977 Inheritance and Natural History by the noted geneticist R. J. Berry. This was an excellent example of how to explain genetics to the nonprofessional. All of this long rambling is to call attention to articles in the Times Literary Supplement (TLS) on the New Naturalist series. In the 25 July 2008 issue there is an article by C. Perrins entitled “Mumps and badgers,” which gives an excellent history of the New Naturalist series. Also in this issue is a reprint of part of a review of a previous New Naturalist book by W. D. Hamilton, of sociobiology fame. Also in this issue of the ESA Bulletin we say goodbye to W. Harold Ornes as Editor of Ecology 101. Harold has served as Editor for these many years, pre-dating me as Editor-in-Chief. College and university teaching has, over the last decade, become an increasingly important area to ESA. Harold has played a significant role in keeping college and university teaching of ecology at the forefront. We wish Harold good luck in his new job as Dean, College of Science and Engineering, Winona State University, Winona, Minnesota. With the next issue, we also welcome William Bromer at the University of St Francis in Joliet, Illinois as the next Editor of Ecology 101. His web site is 〈www.stfrancis.edu/ns/bromer/bromer.htm〉.