Seit März 2002 ist Prof. Dr.
Thomas Speck Direktor des Botanischen Garten der Universität
Freiburg. Er ist u. a. auch Mit-Initiator des Kompetenznetzes
Biomimetik an der Universität Freiburg, das sich als
Schnittstelle zwischen Forschung und Industrie zum Technologie-Transfer
versteht.
| Prof. Dr. Thomas
Speck
|
| Professor for Funtional
Morphology and Director of the Botanic Garden |
| President of the
Society of Botanic Gardens Germany (Verband Botanischer
Gärten e.V.) |
| Office address: |
Plant Biomechanics Group Freiburg
Botanischer Garten der Universität Freiburg
Schänzlestr. 1
D-79104 Freiburg i.Br.
Tel.: ++49-(0)761-203-2875
Fax: ++49-(0)761-203-2880
email: thomas.speck@biologie.uni-freiburg.de |
| Curriculum vitae
|
| Personal data: |
|
| Date/place of birth: |
November 20th, 1957, Karlsruhe, Germany |
| Nationality: |
German |
| Married with: |
Dr. Olga Hedwig Speck, née Wimmer |
| Children: |
Iva Katharina (born January 31st, 1990)
David Jakob (born January 10th, 1992) |
| Schools |
Grundschule, Karlsruhe-Beiertheim (primary school)
Goethe-Gymnasiums, Karlsruhe (high school)
Markgrafen-Gymnasiums, Karlsruhe (high school), Abitur |
| Military service |
October 1st , 76 - December 31st, 77, Pfullendorf
and Phillipsburg |
| Study: |
|
| 1978 - 1986 |
Study of Biology, University of Freiburg, Germany |
| 1986 |
Diploma in Biology, University of Freiburg,
Germany
- Principle research areas: biomechanics and functional anatomy
of plants, paleobotany, plant ecology
- Additional research areas: plant systematics and evolution |
| 1990 |
Dr. rer. nat. in biology, University of Freiburg,
Germany
Title of Ph.D. thesis: Biomechanical studies of upright plant
stems in particular consideration of early "vascular"
land plants and self-supporting & non self-supporting
growth forms (Biomechanische Untersuchungen an aufrechten
Pflanzenachsen unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der
frühen "Gefäß " Landpflanzen sowie
selbsttragender und nicht selbsttragender Lebensformen)
Thesis supervisor: Prof. Dr. D. Vogellehner, Freiburg |
| 1995 |
Lectureship in paleobotany |
| 1996 |
Habilitation and venia legendi in botany and
biophysics
Title of habilitation thesis: A functional and biomechanical
analysis of stem structure and growth habit of living and
fossil plants (Eine funktionell-biomechanische Analyse von
Achsenstruktur und Wuchsform rezenter und fossiler Pflanzen) |
| Professional Career: |
|
| 1977 - 1978 |
Management assistant: Ambassador Inc., USA and
Germany |
| 1981 - 1986 |
Teaching and research assistant - botany, paleobotany,
biophysics: Botanical Garden and Institut for Biology III,
University of Freiburg, Germany |
| 1986 - 1990 |
Research Associate - biomechanics of plants
and paleobotany: Botanical Garden, University of Freiburg,
Germany |
| 1990 - 1993 |
Research Scientist - biomechanics of plants,
botany and paleobotany: Botanical Garden, University of Freiburg,
Germany (Wissenschaftlicher Angestellter) |
| 1993 - 1999 |
Assistant Professor of botany and paleobotany:
Botanical Garden, University of Freiburg, Germany (Hochschulassistent) |
| 1994 – present |
Head of the research group "Plant biomechanics"
(1994 – 2002 together with Prof. Hanns-Christof Spatz) |
| winterterm 99/00 |
Visiting professor at the Formal- und Naturwissenschaftlichen
Fakultät der Universität Wien |
| 2000- 03’2002 |
Reader of botany and biophysics, University
of Freiburg, Germany (Hochschuldozent) |
| 07’2001 |
Offer of a Professorship for Palaeobotany at
the Humboldt-University Berlin combined with the direction
of the Department of Palaeobotany at the Museum for Natural
History (Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin) |
| 12’2001 |
Offer of a Professorship for Functional Morphology
at the Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg combined with the
directorship of the Botanic Garden of the University |
| since 04’2002 |
University Professor for Functional Morphology
& Biomechanics and Director of the Botanic Garden at the
University of Freiburg |
visiting scientist: |
1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2004 several weeks
in French Guyana, research station ORSTOM (Cayenne) &
SILVOLAB (Kourou)
1994-2005 at the “Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution,
Université de Montpellier II” and “UMR
Botanique et Bioinformatique, AMAP” (as part of two
binational PROCOPE-Projects) |
| Honors, Awards and Scholarships: |
| 1980-1984 |
Scholarship, German National Merit Foundation
(Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes) |
| 1990 |
1990 Hans-Spemann-Award 1990 (Faculty of Biology,
University of Freiburg) |
Other Scientific Activities
Conference & Editorial Boards: |
| since 1994 |
Member of the scientific committee and organisation
committee of several international congresses and symposia
in Germany, France, Austria, England and USA |
| since 2000 |
Member of the Advisory Board of the international
book series "Design in Nature – The World of Science
and Nature" (WIT Press, Southhampton) |
| since 2001 |
Co-editor of “Paläontographica Abteilung
B – Palaeophytologie” |
| since 2002 |
Co-editor of “Trees: Structure and Function” |
| from 2006 on |
Co-editor of “The International Journal
of Design & Nature” |
| Board Memberships, Memberships etc. |
| since 2005 |
Vertrauensdozent German National Merit Foundation
(Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes) |
| since 2004 |
Coordinator of the priority grant-programme
„Bionics“ of the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt
(DBU) (together with C. Neinhuis, TU Dresden) |
| since 2004 |
Board member of the federal Competence-Network
“BIOKON e.V.” (funded by the Federal Ministry
of Education and Research) |
| since 2004 |
since 2003 President of the Society of Botanic
Gardens Germany |
| since 2002 |
Board member of the state-wide Competence-Network
“Biomimetics” (funded by the Ministry of Science,
Research and Arts, Baden-Württemberg)
Both Competence Networks are members of kompetenznetze.de |
| since 2002 |
Board member of the “Biomechanics Group”
of the Society for Experimental Biology, U.K. (SEB) |
| since 2000 |
Fellow of the Linnean Society London |
| since 1999 |
Vice-President of the “Society for Technical
Biology and Bionics” (GTBB – Gesellschaft für
Technische Biologie und Bionik) |
| since 1999 |
Scientific Member of the Centre for Applied
Biology (ZAB - Zentrum für Angewandte - Biologie) at
the University of Freiburg |
| Memberships |
Member of several Scientific Societies as e.g.:
Botanical Society of America, Deutsche Botanische Gesellschaft,
International Association of Wood Anatomists, International
Organization of Palaeontology, International Association of
Plant Taxonomy |
