Otto Frankel

Sir Otto Herzberg Frankel (4 November 1900, Vienna – 21 November 1998, Canberra) was an Austrian-born New Zealand and Australian geneticist renowned for his pioneering work in plant genetics and conservation. Frankel was among the first scientists in the 1960s and 1970s to raise awareness about the critical importance of preserving plant biodiversity and the risks associated with biodiversity loss. A lot of Frankel's influential work in conservation genetics was done after his retirement, when he became an advocate for genetic resource preservation.

His research and advocacy laid the groundwork for modern conservation genetics, influencing global efforts to protect endangered plant species and ecosystems. Frankel's distinguished career spanned several decades, during which he made significant contributions to both theoretical and applied genetics, earning him numerous accolades, including fellowship in the Royal Society (FRS) and the Australian Academy of Science (FAA). His legacy continues to inspire conservationists and geneticists worldwide.

Early life and family Otto Herzberg-Frankel was the third of four sons of a prominent and wealthy lawyer. Otto's paternal grandfather, a well-known author, added Herzberg from his mother's name to become Herzberg-Frankel. After his father's death, Otto dropped the hyphen. Ludwig Herzberg-Frankel, Otto's father, was a highly successful barrister in Vienna. He was related to Lewis Namier, who played a significant role in Otto's career. Otto and Margaret Frankel commissioned the architect Ernst Plischke to design their house in the Christchurch suburb of Opawa; Frankel House is a Category 2 entry on the Heritage New Zealand register.

Education Looking back on his education, otto recognized that although he developed independence in research, he missed key aspects of university life. His early courses were disorganized, and he often worked alone with little guidance from Baur or his official supervisor, Elizabeth Schiemann. His focus on genetics isolated him from his peers, and he didn't acquire cell biology skills. In this role, he chaired a joint committee of experts the UN Food and Agriculture Organization organised several international conferences, and worked to raise awareness of the issue of biodiversity loss among scientists, the international community, and the public.

Legacy Otto Frankel is regarded as a pioneer of conservation genetics and the conservation of plant genetic resources. Building on his earlier research, he played a central role in raising global awareness of genetic erosion during the 1960s and 1970s through his work with the IBP and the FAO. At the 1967 FAO/IBP conference on crop plant exploration and conservation, Frankel and Erna Bennet introduced the terms "genetic resources" and "genetic erosion," which became central concepts in the field and keep influencing international conservation policy.

Frankel was also instrumental in bringing genetic conservation into global policy discussions. At the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, his recommendations on the conservation of genetic resources were adopted, promoting the recognition of biodiversity loss as an international scientific and political issue. His 1981 book, Conservation and Evolution, co-written with Michael E. Soulé, stood out for connecting genetic resource conservation to broader discussions of biodiversity and evolution.

Frankel's influence persisted well beyond retirement. The International Board for Plant Genetic Resources established the Vavilov-Frankel Fellowship Program in recognition of his contributions, and he remained active in resesarch and policy discussions into his nineties. His later works, including The Conservation of Plant Biodiversity (1995), co-authored with Anthony H. D. Brown and Jeremy J. Burdon, continued to shape scientific approaches to biodiversity conservation.