Prof. Rupert Ormond

Rupert Ormond is a highly experienced marine biologist and ecologist. He is now an honorary Professor at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, and also Director of Marine Conservation International, a small specialist research agency. He studied at Cambridge University (UK) from 1965-72, obtaining BA, MA and PhD degrees in natural sciences and fish biology. He subsequently taught marine ecology and animal behaviour at the Universities of York, of London and of Glasgow, as well as at Heriot-Watt. He has also served as Chief Scientist of the Save our Seas Foundation, Research Chair in Coastal Marine Conservation at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, and Secretary of the International Coral Reef Society (the principal learned society for coral reefs)

Prof. Ormond has a broad interest in the overall functioning and management of marine ecosystems, and the behaviour and ecology of aquatic organisms. His research interests have encompassed: Coral Reef Ecology & Management; Fish Behaviour & Ecology; Shark Behaviour and Conservation; Tropical and Temperate Marine Fisheries; Marine Mammal Behaviour and Conservation; Mangrove Ecology; Environmental Planning; and Protected Area Management.  He also has considerable experience of overseas research and consultancy work, in connection with one or more long-term projects in each of Egypt, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Yemen, Oman, Bahrain, Pakistan, Malaysia, Kenya, Seychelles, Bangladesh and the Cayman Islands. Has supervised >60 Ph.D. students and >100 Master’s/honours students, and published >100 papers (including 5 in the last year) in refereed journals and books on topics ranging from the behaviour & ecology of reef fish, sharks, and cetaceans, through the microbiomes of corals and sharks, to the management of marine protected areas.