Welcome to the EGI
The Edward Grey Institute is part of the Department of Zoology at the University of Oxford. Founded in 1937, it conducts research into the behaviour, ecology, evolution and conservation of birds, with a strong emphasis on understanding organisms in their natural environments. Read more on the history of the EGI.
The EGI is particularly well known for its long-term population studies of birds, and as one of the birthplaces of behavioural ecology. These research themes are as strong as ever, and have recently been supplemented by vigorous programmes studying reproductive strategies in birds, speciation in Neotropical passerines, and the evolutionary ecology of avian malaria.
This week
- Alexei Maklakov & Simone Immler (Uppsala University) are visiting the EGI this Friday (12th Feb) and will give seminars on "Sex differences in lifespan and reproductive ageing" and "The evolution of sperm design - causes and consequences". 4 pm, D38. All welcome!
- Jan 2010: We welcome Steve Larcombe as EGI/Tour du Valat research fellow, and Yannis Psorakis, who begins a DPhil, funded by Microsoft, jointly with Prof Steve Roberts and Ben Sheldon.
- Jan 2010: Adele Mennerat has been awarded a Marie Curie Fellowship to work in the EGI on social networks and disease in birds.
- Jan 2010: Many thanks to all who attended the EGI conference from 6-8 Jan 2010, often battling through inclement weather to do so. For photos, click here...
- Jan 2010: Tom Pizzari and co-investigators (Adrian Smith and David Richardson, UEA) were awarded a £500K NERC grant to study immunological female responses to sperm in fowl.
- Dec 2009: Three DPhils are available: one on signal evolution and speciation, one on the evolutionary ecology of sexual networks, and one on the the evolution of female phenotypes. For details, click here...
- Dec 2009: A number of positions are available: a 5 yr postdoc, and a 4-yr research assistant position, working on social networks in birds, and a 14 month postdoc working on ecology of avian malaria. In addition, we seek to hire some short-term field assistants for work on the breeding ecology of tits.
- For other news check out our complete news section
Recent News
TRACKS & SIGNS
- - A paper published online in Current Biology explores the effect of the environment in which birds are reared on their subsequent life histories and fitness in a sample of >5000 great tits studied over 45 years. Read paper | Planet Earth
- A study of gyr falcons published in Ibis demonstrates that some traditional nest sites in Greenland have been occupied for over 2000 years. Read paper | BBC
- - A meta-analysis of cooperatively breeding birds and mammals reveals that kin discrimination provides helpers with a route to indirect fitness when relatedness within groups is too variable to favour indiscriminate cooperation. Read paper.
- A study of Amazonian birds, published in Evolution, shows that interspecific competition may cause convergence in territorial songs. Read paper | Press release | Science | BBC | Science Daily | ESA
- - A review published in Trends in Genetics discusses recent advances in our understanding of the factors underpinning sex-chromosome evolution. Read paper
- In the BBC programme ‘Are We Changing Planet Earth?’, Sir David Attenborough discusses the EGI’s long-term research programme in Wytham Woods, Oxfordshire (click video link).
Robin McCleery
We were all shocked and saddened by Robin's sudden death on 16 Jan 2008. Robin was a dedicated colleague and valued friend to the EGI and the Department for more than 30 years, and will be sorely missed. His funeral took place in Wadham College Chapel on 25 Jan 08; a memorial service was held on 8 June 08. Read a tribute to Robin.
Opportunities
Studentships Postdoctoral Research Research Assistants & InternshipsSEMINARS
EGI seminars are held at 4 pm every Friday of term. For details, click hereCONFERENCES
The 6th International Hole-nesting Birds Conference will be held at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, 14-15 July 2010.
The last EGI Conference took place 6-8 Jan 2010 in the Dept. of Zoology, Oxford.
The ASAB Summer Conference 2009 was organised by EGI members and took place 2-4 Sep 2009.
fieldguides
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