Author Biography
The author Roy Watling MBE, PhD, DSc., RSE, C. Biol., F.S Biol. was former head of mycology and plant pathology and acting Regius Keeper during the 2000 interregnum at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. He was awarded an MBE for services to mycology, the Royal Society of Edinburgh's Patrick Neill Medal for scientific contributions, and the Smart Award of Plantlife for activities in fungal conservation. He recently received the nature of Scotland Outstanding Contribution Award, sponsored by the Scottish Natural Heritage and organised by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. He is a former president of the British Mycological Society, the Botanical Society of Edinburgh (now Scotland) and Yorkshire Naturalist's Union and a former chairman of the Scottish branch of the then Institute of Biology. He is an honorary member of the American and German Mycological Societies, and honorary life member of the North American Mycological Association and a corresponding member of the Dutch Mycological Society. He is presently a councillor for the International Society of Fungal Conservation. He was born in London in 1938, but spent his early life as an evacuee in Halifax, Yorkshire, where he was formally educated before moving to Sheffield. Here he gained a first degree in Botany at Sheffield University in 1961 and later in 1981, his DSc. His PhD was awarded by the University of Edinburgh in 1965. He is the author of several academic and popular publications and manuals, including fifteen articles covering aspects of Dawyck. He has made many contributions to government consultations and to NGOs, and a range of media. He has travelled extensively abroad, where his expertise is regularly called upon, especially in South East Asia. He lives in Edinburgh with his wife Elizabeth; they have two children, Christopher and Lisa.
