Dorn, Silvia

Biography

Silvia Dorn is full professor of Applied Entomology at ETH Zurich since 1992. She was born in 1947 in Brugg, Switzerland. Her current research at ETH Zurich focuses on insect-plant interactions, particularly as a basis for more sustainable management of agroecosystems. Her work with herbivore insects, parasitoids and native bees includes dispersal and foraging behaviour, chemically mediated interactions as well as natural resource based pest management. Silvia Dorn received her diploma degree in Natural Sciences with honours from ETH Zurich in 1971, and simultaneously her degree for academic higher secondary school teaching. After her doctorate in phytomedicine at ETH Zurich in 1974, she held leading positions in entomology in the international crop protection company Dr. R. Maag AG. Silvia Dorn made decisive contributions to the discovery and implementation of a novel, environmentally sound insect growth regulator for integrated systems. She spent her sabbaticals in 1975/76 at the Columbia University in New York, and 2005/06 at the University of California, Riverside and at several Australian research institutions. Silvia Dorn served three terms as Head of the Institute of Plant Sciences. In the term 2002-2004, she was Head of the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, and Director of Studies in both curricula. She is a founding member of the North-South Centre and the Zurich-Basel Plant Science Centre. In recognition of her outstanding scientific contributions, she was, among others, elected Fellow of the Entomological Society of America (USA) and the Royal Entomology Society (UK), as well as the International Horticultural Society.

Research Interest

Her work with herbivore insects, parasitoids and native bees includes dispersal and foraging behaviour, chemically mediated interactions as well as natural resource based pest management.