CURRICULUM VITAEEARLY LIFE: Born in Bermuda 22 August 1944; Lerwick (meteorological observatory), Shetland, 1948-53; Luton, Beds., 1953-58; St Albans School, Herts., 1955-59; Malvern, Worcs.,1959-68; King’s School, Worcester,1960-63.HIGHER EDUCATION: Magdalene College, Cambridge 1963-67; London School of Economics 1970-72; Chelsea College, London 1973-80; Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh 1988-92.QUALIFICATIONS: A levels (1962): Biology, Physics, Chemistry; BA (1966): Natural Sciences; MSc (1972), LSE: Logic & Scientific Method; PGCE (1974), Chelsea College; PhD (1981), Chelsea College: Social History of Ideas; BA (1992), Heriot-Watt University: Languages (German and Russian).
EMPLOYMENT and OTHER OCCUPATIONS: PhD-research in ecology, Cambridge, 1966-67; school-teacher, 1967-78; biology text-book writer and illustrator, 1980s; zoologist, Edinburgh University, 1980-88 (ecology of fleas, evolution of birds on islands); Institute of Cytology & Genetics, Novosibirsk, Feb.-Aug.1991; garden guide (part-time) at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE), 1993-2002; technical translator (from Russian & German), Edinburgh, 1992-c.2012; director of Russian Nature Press (RNP), Edinburgh, 1995-2011; Research Associate in phenology, RBGE: 2002-2015.
INTERESTS & PURSUITS (some discontinued): Botany; cross-country skiing in Germany & Norway; languages & translation; philosophy & history of ideas; political science; Russian/Soviet history, geography, natural history & conservation; climate change; violin making and design; book-binding; illustration (pen/ink, wood engraving); toponyms of UK, Central Asia, Altay & Caucasus; plate tectonics in Kamchatka; museums in Hereford; ‘Learn Your Leaves’ project at Castle Green in Hereford (labelling two dozen species of woody plants in a hedge to encourage children in particular to learn to identify plants by leaf shape); volunteer in the Oxfam Bookshop.
It is usually useful to know something about the author of a book that makes demands on the reader. ‘Is this author qualified to make such suggestions? Why should we take it seriously? Who has ever heard of him?’ &c &c. And these questions might be justified. No one wants to labour over a book and conclude that one’s time has been wasted because the author is patently unqualified to undertake such a task.
I have been a teacher, author, translator, publisher, illustrator, and biologist. For thirteen years I conducted research into the effects of weather & climate change on plant development at the botanic garden in Edinburgh (see ‘Phenology‘ page), and previously was an entomologist & evolutionary biologist at Edinburgh University. The CV gives further details
Degrees in biology, philosophy, history & languages do not make me an expert in anything; but there is a role for a generalist, someone with sufficient grasp of a wide range of subjects, and with the ability to coordinate ideas from different disciplines to form a coherent theory or ideology worth serious consideration. I naturally hope that this is how my books will be regarded.
The publications list includes most of my written works, some of which can be supplied on request.
(If the colours used in this website seem a little odd, it is because I am partially colourblind; and the typography of the header needs to be improved.)
Ala Bel, Tien Shan mountains, Kyrgyzia, June 2025GH in Kamchatka, 2019 (photo: Jennifer Hart)Apparently leaning on Koryakskiy Volcano (photo: Jennifer Hart)Noting observations on a volcano (photo: Jennifer Hart)
