Andrew G. Gosler

Biography

Andrew (Andy) Graham Gabriel Gosler holds a joint position as Professor of Ethno-ornithology at the University of Oxford between the Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology in the Department of Biology and the Institute of Human Sciences, of which he is a former Director, in the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography. His research over more than 40 years spans pure and applied aspects of ornithology, including eco-morphology of birds, the function of speckling on birds’ eggs, the ethno-ornithology of bird folk-names, the natural-history knowledge of people in post-industrial communities and the role of religion in environmental stewardship. He has taught for over 30 years on various degree courses in the University of Oxford, on evolution, ecology, ornithology, conservation, and ethnobiology. His contributions to ornithology have been recognised by the receipt of medals from the British Trust for Ornithology and British Ornithologists’ Union, honorary life membership of the latter, and Honorary membership of the American Ornithological Society. He is a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London. And of the Royal Society of Biology, a founder member of the Ethno-ornithology World Alliance, Research Director of the Ethno-ornithology World Atlas, and a Fellow of Mansfield College, Oxford. He has become known as the Oxford biologist who found faith through the writings of Richard Dawkins, a story told in his chapter in True Scientists, True Faith edited by R J (Sam) Berry, which led to the book Coming to Faith through Dawkins edited by Denis Alexander & Alister McGrath. Andy was ordained Deacon in the Church of England in 2018 and Priest in 2019. He serves as an Associate Priest in the Benefice of Marston and Elsfield in Oxford.

Academic biography

Research topics

Current research themes focus on ethno-ornithology: 

1. global and local patterns; 
2. their significance to our understanding of biological and cultural evolution; 
3. their relationship to conservation and faith, for example through his contribution to the book Religion and Nature Conservation: Global Case Studies edited By Radhika Borde, Alison A Ormsby, Stephen M Awoyemi & Andrew G Gosler.