Academics, academia, and intellectual fulfilment: lessons from the career of an eminent mammalogist

Abstract

Dr. William (Bill) Lidicker, Jr., was a classically trained mammal biologist who played an important role in pushing the field of mammalogy from largely descriptive beginnings into conceptual arenas soundly rooted in theory and principles. Whereas many readers will know Bill primarily as the architect of a “multifactorial approach” to understanding population cyclicity in arvicoline rodents, less well-known is how Bill’s thematic focus shifted over the years. In an career that often prioritizes high-level productivity, I argue that Bill’s willingness to pursue novel themes provides an compelling model of how to live a rich and fulfilling life in academia.