Honorary doctor: James W. Hicks

Professor James W. Hicks, University of California (Science and Technology)

Professor James W. Hicks is a highly significant researcher within the field of comparative physiology. During his career he has worked broadly with respiration and circulatory physiology, and in particular he has contributed new knowledge regarding physiological responses to increased metabolism and the influence of gravity on the circulatory system. Professor James W. Hicks has made a fundamental contribution to our understanding of the function of the heart in reptiles, and his scientific work is a shining example of the way in which integrative studies at many levels of biological organisation generate understanding of how and why animals function as they do.

James W. Hicks has published almost 100 articles, a number of which have been printed in high-profile journals such as Science, Nature and PNAS. He has played a leading role in a great number of academic forums and been particularly active in the work involved in strengthening cross-disciplinary, rewarding interaction between comparative physiology and the more clinical physiology practised by medical science.

In addition to being an excellent researcher, James W. Hicks is a brilliant lecturer and a fantastic communicator who is capable of providing simple but accurate explanations of complicated issues. He is an extremely active communicator, and has made lengthy contributions to a variety of programmes produced by the BBC, Discovery Channel and National Geographic.

In 1985 James W. Hicks visited Aarhus University for the first time, since when he has enjoyed close contact with the zoo-physiology group at the university. This has resulted in a great number of joint scientific publications as well as exchanges of students and postdocs.