Professor Norman Owen-Smith

Professor Norman Owen-Smith’s research investigates the ecology of large mammalian herbivores and their interactions with vegetation, supported by computational models to advance theory and conservation science. He obtained his Honours and Master’s degrees in Chemistry at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and completed his PhD in Behavioural and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Wisconsin. After spending time as a Lecturer at the University of Rhodesia and as a consultant at the CSIR, he moved to the University of the Witwatersrand where he held a number of positions. He is currently Emeritus Research Professor of African Ecology at the university. He has written or edited seven books and published more than 40 articles in peer-reviewed journals since 2013. His work has earned numerous scientific awards, including the Harry Oppenheimer Fellowship and the Bill Venter/Altron Literary Award. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa; Honorary Life Member of the Ecological Society of America; and served as a scientific advisor to the BBC.