Kevin C. Burns

Trustee

PhD (University of California, Los Angeles), BSc (University of California, Berkeley). Professor of Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington.

Professor K.C. Burns is a field biologist interested in the ecology and evolution of animals and plants. His research programme encompasses a diverse array of disciplines in evolutionary ecology, from island biogeography and phylogeography, to comparative psychology, animal cognition and behaviour, plant-animal interactions, plant morphometrics, plant macroecology, plant macroevolution and archeology.

With most field observations made on isolated islands ecosystems, his research focuses on the convergent evolution of island organisms. As the overarching research includes both plants and animals; concepts, hypotheses and methodologies that were developed on animals are applied to plants, and vice versa. The goal for this multi-taxon approach is to generate new insights into evolutionary ecology that transcend the plant and animal kingdoms.

K.C. is a Professor of Biology at the School of Biological Sciences, at Victoria University of Wellington/Te Herenga Waka. His teaching focuses on NZ Fauna & Flora, Animal Diversity, Advanced Island Ecology & Evolution, Ecological Impacts of Human-Wildlife Interactions, Global Change Biology - The Ecology of Our Planet Under Stress, and Ecological Restoration.

K.C. has received numerous honours, with significant academic contributions and extensive scientific publications. He is currently an editorial Board Member for Oecologia (one of the most highly cited journals in ecology), and Board Member for the Society of Island Biology. He has held positions as Editor in Chief, Editorial Board Member and Panellist in numerous roles.

With a passion for ecology and a base in Kaikōura, K.C. joined the Trust Board to contribute in the implementation of the Kaikōura Wildlife Hospital centre.