2012
Award Winner: Dr. Till Töpfer

The 2012 Maria Koepcke Prize was awarded to Dr. Till Töpfer of Dresden for his diverse and outstanding work based on ornithological collection material. 

In both natural history and ornithological collections, the gap between the demands of collection care and development and those of modern science is growing ever wider. The limited recognition of conservation work compared to publications in ISI-listed journals makes this balancing act even more difficult. In larger collections, the traditional role of a curator who combines both aspects is increasingly splitting into that of a collection technician on the one hand and a researcher on the other.

Dr. Till Töpfer manages to combine both roles in one person. Through his scientific work on the phylogenetic relationships of bullfinches of the genus Pyrrhula, he demonstrates a modern, integrative approach that incorporates morphological, molecular genetic, and bioacoustic methods, as well as material from ornithological collections worldwide. His involvement in the DO-G method manual “Measuring Birds – Vögel vermessen,” which has since become a highly regarded standard work, as well as his research on laboratory techniques—such as the influence of arsenic on DNA extractions—and on the significance of feather collections and historical local records, demonstrate an understanding of bird collections that extends far beyond the boundaries of phylogenetic studies.

Last but not least, Dr. Töpfer is also an active field ornithologist who is involved in the Saxon Ornithologists’ Association and maintains contact with local ornithologists as an important part of his work.