Evolutionary biology live: Prof. Dr. Kokko about lifespan and nature!

Evolutionary biology live: Prof. Dr. Kokko about lifespan and nature!

On July 10, 2025, the University of Münster will host the annual Bernhard Rensch Lecture, at which Prof. Dr. Hanna Kokko, a renowned evolutionary biologist from the University of Mainz, gave a lecture entitled “A long life: how desirable is it, evolutionarily speaking?” will present. The event will take place at 11:15 a.m. in the castle auditorium and will cover the diversity of lifespans in nature and the evolutionary advantages of shorter lifespans. This lecture is given in honor of the behavioral scientist and evolutionary biologist Prof. Dr. Bernhard Rensch, who played a significant role in the development of modern evolutionary biology.

Bernhard Rensch was born on January 21, 1900 in Thale, Germany and died on April 4, 1990 at the age of 90. He is considered one of the architects of the modern evolutionary synthesis and was known for his field research in Indonesia and India. Rensch began his scientific career with pro-Lamarckian views, but later turned to selectionism. His approach to evolution focused on the effects of environmental factors and on evolution across species boundaries. His contributions to biology range from ornithology and ethology to the philosophy of biology.

Honored by the University of Münster

The Bernhard Rensch Lecture has been held annually since 1980 to discuss central questions in biology. Recognized personalities from the field of biology who, like Rensch, have a significant influence on science will speak. Rensch himself was director of the Zoological Institute at the University of Münster and the State Museum of Natural History from 1947 to 1970 and thus had a significant influence on biological studies in the region. His concept of species circles, which revolutionized the view of biological taxonomy, remains an important foundation in evolutionary biology today.

Rensch was not only active academically, but also in the military, where he served during the First and Second World Wars. His autobiography from 1979 provides interesting insights into the challenges and experiences he faced during his long career as a biologist. His contribution to biology was recognized internationally when he received the Darwin Wallace Medal in 1958. In addition, an Indonesian lizard species, Cryptoblepharus renschi, was named in his honor.

Legacy and influence

Even as a child, Rensch was fascinated by nature and had a talent for art. After returning from military service, he studied feather structure under Valentin Haecker and in 1925 joined the zoological museum at the University of Berlin as an assistant. Despite political opposition, Rensch remained true to his scientific curiosity and searched for universal patterns in biological processes, which led him to formulate important rules of biology, such as Allen's Rule and Gloger's Rule.

His wide-ranging publications, including “Evolution above the species level” (1947) and “Biophilosophy” (1971), reflect his commitment to understanding and demonstrating complex biological processes. The Bernhard Rensch Lecture is not only a tribute to this outstanding life's work, but also a platform for future generations of researchers in biology.

uni-muenster.de reports that Rensch had a fundamental influence on science and his legacy in biological research continues to be significant. The Italian biologist and historian Marco Laganà emphasizes that “the Rensch rule” still plays a central role in many biological studies today. Information about his life story is also on HandWiki as well as Wikipedia to find.