{{Short description|Conservation biologist}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox scientist | name = William J. Sutherland |honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CBE|FRS}} | image = Bill Sutherland.png | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1956|04|27|df=y}} | birth_place = | nationality = | fields = Conservation Biology | workplaces = University of Cambridge | alma_mater = University of East Anglia (BSc); Liverpool Polytechnic (PhD) | thesis_title = Oystercatchers and cockles : a predatory-prey study | thesis_url = http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.290281 | thesis_year = 1980 | doctoral_advisor = William G. Hale | doctoral_students = | known_for = President of the British Ecological Society; Creator of ConservationEvidence.com | awards = Distinguished Service Award, Society for Conservation Biology, 2013; Sir John Burnett Memorial Lecture Medal, 2013 | spouse = Nicola Jane Crockford | children = 2 daughters }}
'''William James Sutherland''' {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CBE|FRS}}<ref name=cbe/><ref name=frs/> (born 27 April 1956) is the Director of Research at the University of Cambridge Department of Zoology, and was previously the Miriam Rothschild Professor of Conservation Biology.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.zoo.cam.ac.uk/directory/bill-sutherland|title=Professor William Sutherland|date=12 June 2013 |publisher=University of Cambridge|access-date=12 December 2023}}</ref> He has been the president of the British Ecological Society.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/contact-us/bes-trustees/|title=BES Trustees |publisher=British Ecological Society|access-date=20 March 2015}}</ref> He has been a Fellow of St Catharine's College, Cambridge since 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.caths.cam.ac.uk/home/index.php?m=page&id=114&sub_id=185&sub_offset=0&landed=true&sub_keys=0|title=St Catharine's College Cambridge – Fellows |publisher=St Catharine's College Cambridge|access-date=20 March 2015}}</ref> In 2025, he was elected to the American Philosophical Society.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.amphilsoc.org/news/aps-elects-new-members-2025 | title=APS Elects New Members for 2025 }}</ref>
==Research== Sutherland's research interests largely involve predicting the consequences of environmental change. He is known for his research on integrating science and policy particularly in the field of evidence-based conservation. Over the last three decades, his research has spanned several disciplines. Two of his key contributions have been the horizon scanning exercises to identify future priority issues and the 100 important questions in various disciplines (ecology,<ref name=Sutherland>{{cite journal|last1=Sutherland|first1=William J.|authorlink1=William Sutherland (biologist)|last2=Freckleton|first2=Robert P.|last3=Godfray|first3=H. Charles J.|last4=Beissinger|first4=Steven R.|last5=Benton|first5=Tim|last6=Cameron|first6=Duncan D.|last7=Carmel|first7=Yohay|last8=Coomes|first8=David A.|last9=Coulson|first9=Tim|last10=Emmerson|first10=Mark C.|last11=Hails|first11=Rosemary S.|last12=Hays|first12=Graeme C.|last13=Hodgson|first13=Dave J.|last14=Hutchings|first14=Michael J.|last15=Johnson|first15=David|last16=Jones|first16=Julia P. G.|last17=Keeling|first17=Matt J.|last18=Kokko|first18=Hanna|last19=Kunin|first19=William E.|last20=Lambin|first20=Xavier|last21=Lewis|first21=Owen T.|last22=Malhi|authorlink22=Yadvinder Malhi|first22=Yadvinder|last23=Mieszkowska|first23=Nova|last24=Milner-Gulland|first24=E. J.|last25=Norris|first25=Ken|last26=Phillimore|first26=Albert B.|last27=Purves|first27=Drew W.|last28=Reid|first28=Jane M.|last29=Reuman|first29=Daniel C.|last30=Thompson|first30=Ken|last31=Travis|first31=Justin M. J.|last32=Turnbull|first32=Lindsay A.|last33=Wardle|first33=David A.|last34=Wiegand|first34=Thorsten|last35=Gibson|first35=David| display-authors=5|title=Identification of 100 fundamental ecological questions|journal=Journal of Ecology|volume=101|issue=1|year=2013|pages=58–67|issn=0022-0477|doi=10.1111/1365-2745.12025|bibcode=2013JEcol.101...58S |s2cid=37227167 |url=http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/62738/1/WRAP_0170476-ma-180814-100_fundamental_questions.pdf}}</ref> poverty prevention,<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1332/175982713X671210|title=100 Questions: Identifying research priorities for poverty prevention and reduction|year=2013|last1=Sutherland|first1=William J.|last2=Goulden|first2=Chris|last3=Bell|first3=Kate|last4=Bennett|first4=Fran|last5=Burall|first5=Simon|last6=Bush|first6=Marc|last7=Callan|first7=Samantha|last8=Catcheside|first8=Kim|last9=Corner|first9=Julian|last10=d'Arcy|first10=Conor T.|last11=Dickson|first11=Matt|last12=Dolan|first12=James A.|last13=Doubleday|first13=Robert|last14=Eckley|first14=Bethany J.|last15=Foreman|first15=Esther T.|last16=Foster|first16=Rowan|last17=Gilhooly|first17=Louisa|last18=Gray|first18=Ann Marie|last19=Hall|first19=Amanda C.|last20=Harmer|first20=Mike|last21=Hastings|first21=Annette|last22=Johnes|first22=Chris|last23=Johnstone|first23=Martin|last24=Kelly|first24=Peter|last25=Kenway|first25=Peter|last26=Lee|first26=Neil|last27=Moore|first27=Rhys|last28=Ouchikh|first28=Jackie|last29=Plunkett|first29=James|last30=Rowlingson|first30=Karen| display-authors=5|journal=Journal of Poverty and Social Justice|volume=21|issue=3|pages=189–205|doi-access=free}}</ref> global agriculture and food<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.3763/ijas.2010.0534|title=The top 100 questions of importance to the future of global agriculture|year=2010|last1=Pretty|first1=Jules|last2=Sutherland|first2=William J.|last3=Ashby|first3=Jacqueline|last4=Auburn|first4=Jill|last5=Baulcombe|first5=David|last6=Bell|first6=Michael|last7=Bentley|first7=Jeffrey|last8=Bickersteth|first8=Sam|last9=Brown|first9=Katrina|last10=Burke|first10=Jacob|last11=Campbell|first11=Hugh|last12=Chen|first12=Kevin|last13=Crowley|first13=Eve|last14=Crute|first14=Ian|last15=Dobbelaere|first15=Dirk|last16=Edwards-Jones|first16=Gareth|last17=Funes-Monzote|first17=Fernando|last18=Godfray|first18=H. Charles J.|last19=Griffon|first19=Michel|last20=Gypmantisiri|first20=Phrek|last21=Haddad|first21=Lawrence|last22=Halavatau|first22=Siosiua|last23=Herren|first23=Hans|last24=Holderness|first24=Mark|last25=Izac|first25=Anne-Marie|last26=Jones|first26=Monty|last27=Koohafkan|first27=Parviz|last28=Lal|first28=Rattan|last29=Lang|first29=Timothy|last30=McNeely|first30=Jeffrey| display-authors=5|journal=International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability|volume=8|issue=4|pages=219–236|bibcode=2010IJAgS...8..219P |s2cid=12208593}}</ref> amongst others. He has also worked extensively on bird population ecology and the biodiversity impacts of agriculture.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zoo.cam.ac.uk/directory/bill-sutherland|title=Department of Zoology – William Sutherland |date=12 June 2013 |publisher=University of Cambridge|access-date=19 March 2015}}</ref> He has been cited 23,955 times and has an i10-index of 277.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=fKwq9YgAAAAJ&hl=en|title=William J. Sutherland – Google Scholar Citations|website=scholar.google.co.uk}}</ref>
==Research career== Sutherland was awarded the Natural Environment Research Council postdoctoral fellowship to join Wolfson College, Oxford in 1980–82.<ref>{{cite interview|title=Conservation in a post-truth world|url=https://ecologyforthemasses.com/2018/04/30/bill-sutherland-conservation-in-a-post-truth-world/|interviewer=Sam Perrin|publisher=Ecology for the Masses|date=April 2018}}</ref> After completing his post-doctoral research he joined the School of Environmental Sciences at the University of East Anglia in 1983 and went on to hold a professorship in Biology from 1996–2006 in the School of Biological Sciences.<ref>{{cite podcast|url=https://www.conservation-careers.com/conservation-jobs-careers-advice/podcast/professor-bill-sutherland-cambridge-university/|title=Conservation Careers podcast: Bill Sutherland|host=Nick Askew|date=July 2018}}</ref> He was also a trustee of Fauna & Flora International from 1998 to 2006, and the President of the British Ecological Society from 2013-2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/bes-presidents-recognised-in-queens-birthday-honours-list/|title=BES Presidents recognised in Queen's birthday honours list|publisher=British Ecological Society|date=2023}}</ref>
==Honours and awards==
*Scientific Medal, Zoological Society of London, 1997;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zsl.org/sites/default/files/media/2014-07/ZSL%20Scientific%20Medal_previous%20winners_0.pdf|title=ZSL Scientific Medal Winners|website=ZSL.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314084919/https://www.zsl.org/sites/default/files/media/2014-07/ZSL%20Scientific%20Medal_previous%20winners_0.pdf|archive-date=2016-03-14}}</ref> *Marsh Award for Ecology, British Ecological Society, 2001;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/grants-awards/honours_awards_prizes/marsh-award-for-ecology/|title=The Marsh Award for Ecology |website=britishecologicalsociety.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160526140025/https://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/grants-awards/honours_awards_prizes/marsh-award-for-ecology/|archive-date=2016-05-26}}</ref> *Marsh Award for Conservation Biology, Zoological Society of London, 2005;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://static.zsl.org/files/marsh-cons-biol-winners-2008-806.pdf|title=Recipients of The Zoological Society of London Marsh Award for Conservation Biology|website=ZSL.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814085116/http://static.zsl.org/files/marsh-cons-biol-winners-2008-806.pdf|archive-date=2016-08-14}}</ref> *Ecological Engagement Award, British Ecological Society, 2012; *Distinguished Service Award, Society for Conservation Biology, 2013; *Sir John Burnett Memorial Lecture Medal, 2013 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nbn.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/history/nbn-timeline/|title=NBN Timeline|website=National Biodiversity Network}}</ref> * ECI Prize, 2023 * International Cosmos Prize, 2024<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.expo-cosmos.or.jp/english/news/uploads/2024_e.pdf|title=The Winner of the 2024 (31st) International Cosmos Prize}}</ref>
Sutherland was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2021 Birthday Honours for services to evidence-based conservation.,<ref name=cbe>{{London Gazette|issue=63377|supp=y|page=B10|date=12 June 2021}}</ref> and a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 2023.<ref name=frs>{{cite web|url=https://royalsociety.org/people/william-sutherland-36244/|publisher=Royal Society|location=London|title=William Sutherland FRS|author=Anon|year=2023}}</ref>
==Books==
He has authored three books: ''Transforming Conservation: A Practical Guide to Evidence and Decision Making'',<ref>{{cite book|last=Sutherland|first=William|title=Transforming Conservation: A Practical Guide to Evidence and Decision Making|date=November 2022|isbn=9781800648562|publisher=Open Book Publishers}}</ref> ''The Conservation Handbook'' and ''From Individual Behaviour to Population Ecology''. Additionally, he has also edited the following books: ''Managing Habitats for Conservation'', ''Ecological Census Techniques'', ''Behaviour and Conservation'', ''Conservation Science and Action'' and ''Bird Ecology, Conservation: a Handbook of Techniques'' and ''Transforming Conservation- A Practical Guide to Evidence and Decision Making'',<ref>{{Cite book|title=Transforming Conservation: A Practical Guide to Evidence and Decision Making|first=William J.|last=Sutherland|editor-first1=William J |editor-last1=Sutherland |date=6 December 2022|publisher=Open Book Publishers|doi=10.11647/obp.0321|isbn=978-1-80064-856-2 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.conservation.cam.ac.uk/person/professor-bill-sutherland|title=Professor Bill Sutherland – Cambridge Conservation Initiative}}</ref> He has also co-authored the summaries on amphibian, bird, bee and farmland conservation,<ref>Smith, R.K. & Sutherland, W.J. (2014). Amphibian Conservation: evidence for effectiveness of interventions. Pelagic Publishing</ref><ref>Dicks, L. V., J. E. Ashpole, J. Danhardt, K. James, A. Jönsson, N. Randall, D. A. Showler, R. K. Smith, S. Turpie, D. Williams, and W. J. Sutherland. (2014). Farmland Conservation Synopsis. Pelagic Publishing</ref><ref>Williams, D.,W., Opole, R.G., Showler, D.A., Dicks, L.V., Child, M.F., zu Ermgassen, E.K.H.J., & Sutherland, W.J. (2013). Bird Conservation. Evidence for the effects of interventions. Pelagic Publishing</ref><ref>Dicks, L.J. Showler, D.A. & Sutherland, W.J. (2010) Bee conservation: evidence for the effectiveness of interventions. Pelagic Publishing</ref>
A gratis book scheme that he established has given away more than 5,000 books to 137 countries.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nhbs.com/services/gratis-books |title=Gratis Books Scheme |access-date=31 March 2015 |archive-date=14 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914051609/http://www.nhbs.com/services/gratis-books |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://conservationevidence.com/ ConservationEvidence.com] * {{google scholar id|fKwq9YgAAAAJ}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sutherland, William J.}} Category:1956 births Category:Living people Category:Alumni of the University of East Anglia Category:British ecologists Category:Academics of the University of East Anglia Category:Fellows of St Catharine's College, Cambridge Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Category:Fellows of the Royal Society Category:Presidents of the British Ecological Society Category:International members of the American Philosophical Society