Inaugural Lectures

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Inaugural Lectures (Zoology)

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Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Ife and Biology
    (Obafemi Awolowo University Press, 1972-03-14) Halstead, L. B.
    An inaugural lecture is an occasion to survey one's field, to explain what one does, to demonstrate its relevance and to place one's own contributions into their general perspective. It is in fact an opportunity for a kind of academic license. However, today I intend to outline my attitude to Ife, to discuss some general questions, which I believe are important to us and which have implications for Biology at Ife. I shall illustrate my arguments with examples culled from my observations and experiences here, which though local, may I suspect, have relevance to many young universities in this part of the world.
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    Laws of Arrangement
    (Obafemi Awolowo University Press, 1980-11-18) Segun, A. O.
    The topic, laws of arrangement, concerns the most fundamental and inclusive aspects of life sciences. It will deal with' the scientific term, taxonomy a word derived from two Greek words, "taxis" which means arrangement and "nomos" law. A branch of biology which used to be called "natural history" deals with the diversity of organisms within their environment. This is now split into the two separate branches of systematic and ecology. Systematic is involved with the descriptions, classification and all relationships among species. It therefore, includes taxonomy which is the theory and practice of classifying all organisms, both living and fossil, into a grand overall scheme. It should be noted that classification of organism is not the end of a taxonomist's concern, he is also interested in species formation, factors of evolution, structure of natural populations, biogeography, and the entire broad field of comparative biology.
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    Man and Environment - the Nigerian Situation
    (Obafemi Awolowo University Press, 1972-05-16) Imevbore, A.M.A
    MAN is an organism and his environment includes all things, living and non-living, which influence his life The study of man's relationship with his environment dates back to the time of his emergence as the dominant species on earth. In the beginning was the land, the plants and the animals. Plants and animals respond to the forces of nature and this involves interaction with the environment. During such interaction animals alter their behavior to adapt to changing conditions, but this rarely causes trouble. If they are unable to change, they simply die out, and become extinct. More often than not it is only man that upsets the delicate balances of nature, creating environmental problems. This trouble would of course be overcome if man became extinct. However, this is not a solution I would wish to advocate.
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    The World of Bats
    (Obafemi Awolowo University Press, 1984-05-15) Okon, Eyo.E
    I chose the topic: "The World of Bats" for my Inaugural Lecture for two principal reasons. First, with so much mystery and superstition surrounding bats generally, and with their wide variety of life patterns, coupled with the fact that with some two thousand species or so, bats are the second most numerous mammals (the first being the rodents), the bats are truly a world unto themselves. Secondly, my name is so much linked with bats that it appears that our two names could soon become synonymous. Indeed, when I was promoted professor a couple of years ago, some of the goodwill messages I received contained more compliments to the bats than to me. For example, one of the telegrams I received on that occasion said: "Congratulations to the Bats". I was left out! So, this public lecture affords me a golden opportunity to show that I am in fact the one who has been working on bats, and not the ba ts on me! I also in tend, during the course of this lecture to show that all I do and know about in Zoology is not just bats.