Nikolaas Tinbergen - Ornithologists, Family and Family
Nikolaas Tinbergen's Personal Details
Nikolaas Tinbergen was a Dutch biologist known for his discoveries concerning social behavior patterns in animals
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | April 15, 1907 |
| Died on | December 21, 1988 |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Famous | Scientists, Biologists, Ornithologists |
| Birth Place | The Hague, Netherlands |
| Gender | Male |
| Sun Sign | Aries |
| Born in | The Hague, Netherlands |
| Famous as | Ornithologist |
| Died at Age | 81 |
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Nikolaas Tinbergen's photo
Who is Nikolaas Tinbergen?
Nikolaas Tinbergen was a Dutch biologist and ornithologist who was one of the joint winners of the 1973 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. He made significant discoveries concerning the individual and social behavior patterns in animals and published ‘The Study of Instinct’, an influential book on animal behavior. Born in The Hague, Netherlands, he had a happy childhood living in close proximity to nature and animals. Though bright and intelligent, he was not much interested in formal education and by his own accounts, just managed to scrap through high school. He loved observing the behaviors of animals and birds and proceeded to study biology at Leiden University. He met the gifted naturalist, Dr. Jan Verwey, at the university who instilled in the young Tinbergen a professional interest in studying the behavior of animals. After completing his doctorate, he embarked on an academic career that was interrupted by the World War II during which he was taken as a prisoner of war. Following his release, he resumed his research. In collaboration with Konrad Lorenz, he constructed a theoretical framework for the study of ethology, an emerging field in the 1930s and the two men performed many important investigations together, which revolutionized the science of ethology.
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Childhood & Early Life
Nikolaas Tinbergen was born on 15 April 1907, in The Hague, Netherlands, to Dirk Cornelius Tinbergen and Jeanette van Eek as the third of their five children. His father, a teacher of Dutch language and history, was a hardworking man completely devoted to his family while his mother was a caring person. Tinbergen had a happy childhood, growing up in an intellectually stimulating environment.
He developed an interest in animals and nature at an early age. As a young boy, he used to observe the behavior of birds and fishes, which kindled his interest in biological sciences.
He did not like formal education and did not plan to pursue higher studies following his schooling. After high school, he worked at the Vogelwarte Rossitten bird observatory and was highly inspired by its founder, Professor J. Thienemann. Eventually Tinbergen decided to study biology at the Leiden University.
He completed his Ph.D. in 1932. His dissertation was on the behavior of bee-killer wasps, and he demonstrated that the wasps use landmarks to orientate themselves.
Career
Nikolaas Tinbergen received the opportunity of joining the Netherlands' small contingent for the International Polar Year 1932-33. Married by now, he took along his wife on the expedition and spent several months living among the Eskimos. During this time he studied the role of evolution in the behavior of snow buntings, phalaropes, and Eskimo sled dogs.
On his return to the Netherlands he was offered a teaching position at Leiden University where he taught comparative anatomy and organized a teaching course in animal behavior for undergraduates. His research in the mid-1930s focused on the homing of beewolves and behavior studies of other insects and birds.
In 1936, Austrian ethologist, Konrad Lorenz, was invited to Leiden for a small symposium on 'Instinct.' Tinbergen and Lorenz connected immediately, and soon began constructing a theoretical framework for the study of ethology, which was then an emerging field.
The duo hypothesized that all animals have a fixed-action pattern, a repeated, distinct set of movements or behaviors as opposed to simply reacting on impulse in response to environmental factors. Tinbergen demonstrated that in some animals learned behavior is critical for survival.
Tinbergen and Lorenz's work was disrupted by World War II. Tinbergen was taken a prisoner of war and spent two years in a German hostage camp. After the war he was invited to the United States, and to England, to lecture on animal behavior. He settled in England and taught at the University of Oxford.
In 1951, his book ‘The Study of Instinct’ was published. The book detailed how signaling behavior develops in certain species over the course of evolution. The seminal work which offered several significant insights on behavioral science is credited with revitalizing the study of ethology.
In 1966, he was appointed a professor and fellow of Oxford's Wolfson College. He focused on studying autism in children during the later years of his career.
His significant publications include ‘The Herring Gull's World’ (1953), ‘Curious Naturalists’ (1958), ‘The Animal in its World Vol. 1.’ (1972), and ‘The Animal in its World Vol. 2.’ (1973).
He worked on a series of wildlife films in collaboration with filmmaker Hugh Falkus. These include ‘Signals for Survival’ (1969) which won the Italia prize in that year and the American blue ribbon in 1971. In addition to his scientific publications, he also authored several children's books, including ‘Kleew’ and ‘The Tale of John Stickle’.
Major Works
Nikolaas Tinbergen gained international acclaim for his investigations and discoveries in animal behavior. The studies performed by him, in collaboration with Konrad Lorenz, revolutionized the field of ethology and laid the foundation for further research in animal behavior, especially in what he termed the supernormal stimulus. Many of his discoveries also have applications in human behavioral studies.
Awards & Achievements
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 1962.
Nikolaas Tinbergen, Karl von Frisch and Konrad Lorenz were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1973 "for their discoveries concerning organization and elicitation of individual and social behavior patterns."
Personal Life & Legacy
Tinbergen married Elisabeth Rutten in 1932 and they had five children.
He suffered from depression during his later years and died on 21 December 1988, after suffering a stroke. He was 81.
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Nikolaas Tinbergen's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
Other | ||
| 0 | Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine | |
Nikolaas Tinbergen biography timelines
- // 15th Apr 1907Nikolaas Tinbergen was born on 15 April 1907, in The Hague, Netherlands, to Dirk Cornelius Tinbergen and Jeanette van Eek as the third of their five children. His father, a teacher of Dutch language and history, was a hardworking man completely devoted to his family while his mother was a caring person. Tinbergen had a happy childhood, growing up in an intellectually stimulating environment.
- // 1932He completed his Ph.D. in 1932. His dissertation was on the behavior of bee-killer wasps, and he demonstrated that the wasps use landmarks to orientate themselves.
- // 1932Nikolaas Tinbergen received the opportunity of joining the Netherlands' small contingent for the International Polar Year 1932-33. Married by now, he took along his wife on the expedition and spent several months living among the Eskimos. During this time he studied the role of evolution in the behavior of snow buntings, phalaropes, and Eskimo sled dogs.
- // 1932Tinbergen married Elisabeth Rutten in 1932 and they had five children.
- // 1936In 1936, Austrian ethologist, Konrad Lorenz, was invited to Leiden for a small symposium on 'Instinct.' Tinbergen and Lorenz connected immediately, and soon began constructing a theoretical framework for the study of ethology, which was then an emerging field.
- // 1951In 1951, his book ‘The Study of Instinct’ was published. The book detailed how signaling behavior develops in certain species over the course of evolution. The seminal work which offered several significant insights on behavioral science is credited with revitalizing the study of ethology.
- // 1962He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 1962.
- // 1966In 1966, he was appointed a professor and fellow of Oxford's Wolfson College. He focused on studying autism in children during the later years of his career.
- // 1969 To 1971He worked on a series of wildlife films in collaboration with filmmaker Hugh Falkus. These include ‘Signals for Survival’ (1969) which won the Italia prize in that year and the American blue ribbon in 1971. In addition to his scientific publications, he also authored several children's books, including ‘Kleew’ and ‘The Tale of John Stickle’.
- // 1973Nikolaas Tinbergen, Karl von Frisch and Konrad Lorenz were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1973 "for their discoveries concerning organization and elicitation of individual and social behavior patterns."
- // 21st Dec 1988He suffered from depression during his later years and died on 21 December 1988, after suffering a stroke. He was 81.
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Nikolaas Tinbergen's FAQ
What is Nikolaas Tinbergen birthday?
Nikolaas Tinbergen was born at 1907-04-15
When was Nikolaas Tinbergen died?
Nikolaas Tinbergen was died at 1988-12-21
Which age was Nikolaas Tinbergen died?
Nikolaas Tinbergen was died at age 81
Where is Nikolaas Tinbergen's birth place?
Nikolaas Tinbergen was born in The Hague, Netherlands
What is Nikolaas Tinbergen nationalities?
Nikolaas Tinbergen's nationalities is Dutch
What is Nikolaas Tinbergen's sun sign?
Nikolaas Tinbergen is Aries
How famous is Nikolaas Tinbergen?
Nikolaas Tinbergen is famouse as Ornithologist