David Stanley Ingram, OBE,

VMH The Victoria Medal of Honour (VMH) is awarded to British horticulturists resident in the United Kingdom whom the Royal Horticultural Society Council considers deserving of special honour by the Society. The award was established in 1897 "in per ...

, FRSB, FRSE, FLS, F.I. Hort (born 10 October 1941) is an Honorary Professor of Science, Technology and Innovation Studies at the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...

Ingram served as

master Master or masters may refer to: Ranks or titles * Ascended master, a term used in the Theosophical religious tradition to refer to spiritually enlightened beings who in past incarnations were ordinary humans *Grandmaster (chess), National Master ...

St. Catharine's College, Cambridge St Catharine's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1473 as Katharine Hall, it adopted its current name in 1860. The college is nicknamed "Catz". The college is located in the historic city-centre of Camb ...

, between 2000 and 2007.

Early life and education

Ingram was born in

Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1. ...

in 1941, the son of a toolmaker and grandson of a gamekeeper. From an early age he had an interest in

botany Botany, also called , plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. A botanist, plant scientist or phytologist is a scientist who specialises in this field. The term "botany" comes from the Ancient Greek w ...

. After graduating from Yardley Grammar School, he apprenticed as a gardener, but soon decided to study botany at a university. He selected the

University of Hull , mottoeng = Bearing the Torch f learning, established = 1927 – University College Hull1954 – university status , type = Public , endowment = £18.8 million (2016) , budget = £190 million ...

because it enabled him to read botany in combination with geology and psychology, other nascent interests of his. Starting in 1960 at Hull, Ingram studied under Noel Robertson. After receiving a

BSc A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for programs that generally last three to five years. The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Science was the University ...

in botany in 1963, Ingram stayed on at Hull to complete a PhD in Plant Pathology. During his PhD he worked as Robertson's research student and studied the interaction of Phytophthora infestans with tissue cultures of

potato The potato is a starchy food, a tuber of the plant ''Solanum tuberosum'' and is a root vegetable native to the Americas. The plant is a perennial in the nightshade family Solanaceae. Wild potato species can be found from the southern Unit ...

Career

After receiving his doctorate, moved to the

University of Glasgow , image = UofG Coat of Arms.png , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms Flag , latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis , motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita , ...

in 1966 to work with Percy Wragg Brian. In Glasgow he taught and carried out research in

Botany Botany, also called , plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. A botanist, plant scientist or phytologist is a scientist who specialises in this field. The term "botany" comes from the Ancient Greek w ...

Plant Pathology Plant pathology (also phytopathology) is the scientific study of diseases in plants caused by pathogens (infectious organisms) and environmental conditions (physiological factors). Organisms that cause infectious disease include fungi, oomy ...

and

Biotechnology Biotechnology is the integration of natural sciences and engineering sciences in order to achieve the application of organisms, cells, parts thereof and molecular analogues for products and services. The term ''biotechnology'' was first used ...

. During this time he extended his work on the interaction between pathogens and host tissue cultures, notably with Plasmodiophora brassicae, cause of

clubroot Clubroot is a common disease of cabbages, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, radishes, turnips, stocks, wallflowers and other plants of the family Brassicaceae (Cruciferae). It is caused by ''Plasmodiophora brassicae'', which was once cons ...

of brassicas. In 1968, along with Brian, Ingram moved to the

University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a public collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209 and granted a royal charter by Henry III in 1231, Cambridge is the world's third oldest surviving university and one of its most pr ...

. He first worked in the ARC Unit of Developmental Botany. In 1974 he was appointed as a lecturer in botany and became a

fellow A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context. In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements. Within the context of higher education ...

Downing College Downing College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge and currently has around 650 students. Founded in 1800, it was the only college to be added to Cambridge University between 1596 and 1869, and is often described as the olde ...

. In 1988 he was elevated to reader in

at Cambridge. At Downing during this time he also served as Director of Studies in Biology, Dean, and Tutor for Graduate Students. Between 1990 and 1998, Ingram was the Regius Keeper (director) of the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. He was concurrently honorary professor in Edinburgh and Glasgow Universities and RHS Professor of Horticulture while Regius Keeper. He was then

of St Catharine's College, Cambridge, from 2000 to 2007. During this time he served as the Chair of the Colleges’ Committee and the Colleges’ representative on the Council of University Senate.

Honours

Ingram is an Honorary Professor, at

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian on the southern shore of t ...

and Lancaster Universities. He is a Visiting Professor at Glyndwr University. He is also an

Honorary Fellow Honorary titles (professor, reader, lecturer) in academia may be conferred on persons in recognition of contributions by a non-employee or by an employee beyond regular duties. This practice primarily exists in the UK and Germany, as well as in m ...

of St. Catharine's and Downing College, Cambridge as well as at Worcester College, Oxford, the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh, and

Royal Scottish Geographical Society The Royal Scottish Geographical Society (RSGS) is an educational charity based in Perth, Scotland founded in 1884. The purpose of the society is to advance the subject of geography worldwide, inspire people to learn more about the world around ...

. He is also an Honorary Member of the

British Society for Plant Pathology The British Society for Plant Pathology, or BSPP, is a UK-based organisation of British plant pathologists but accepts members from all countries. It was founded in 1981 and publishes three scientific journals: ''Plant Pathology'', ''Molecular P ...

. He was awarded a Doctor of Science degree (ScD) by the University of Cambridge in 1986.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ingram, David S. Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh Living people 1941 births Masters of St Catharine's College, Cambridge Academics of the University of Edinburgh British botanists Officers of the Order of the British Empire Victoria Medal of Honour recipients Fellows of the Royal Society of Biology Fellows of the Linnean Society of London Academics from Birmingham, West Midlands Alumni of the University of Hull Academics of the University of Glasgow Fellows of Downing College, Cambridge