January 28, 2009
In memoriam
A rather more sombre entry than normal. I was extremely saddened to hear of the death of my former boss, and good friend, Mike Majerus, following a mercifully brief struggle against aggressive mesothelioma. Mike was a giant in the world of evolutionary ecology, with a giant personality to match. A staunch defender of Darwinian evolution, he worked extensively with the Peppered Moth (Biston betularia), the celebrated example of natural selection for industrial melanism. In recent years, his work has focused on the arrival of the invasive Harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) in the UK. This subject proved popular with the British public, and thanks to numerous media appearances by Mike, thousands of records of the distribution of Harlequins (and native British ladybirds) were sent in from around the country, resulting in a dataset of unprecedented quality for the early establishment of an introduced species. He worked tirelessly and passionately on the public dissemination of science, which was recognized in 2006 when he received the Sir Peter Scott award for contributions to British natural history.
The nine months I spent working with Mike were perhaps the most fulfilling of my career so far; never have I worked in a group with such enthusiasm for all aspects of the collective work of the lab, from ladybird surveying to events for schoolchildren and individually replying to the thousands of letters we received from the general public. As a group we got along uncommonly well, testament to Mike's ability to select hardworking, inquisitive and caring people to work on his team. Mike was always more than happy to answer my endless questions about odd-looking insects I'd seen out in the field, and the hospitality that he and his wife Tina extended to me made me feel more like extended family than an employee. He will be sorely missed, and never forgotten.
A photo from happier times (Mike's on the far right):
A tribute from the Cambridge University Genetics Department can be seen here: