Willem Takken (The Netherlands), born 1951. Prof. Takken studied at Wageningen University, where he obtained his PhD in Medical Entomology in 1980. He is professor in Medical and Veterinary Entomology at Wageningen University, the Netherlands and visiting professor in Vector Ecology at Durham University, UK.
His research has focused on the (behavioural) ecology and control of mosquitoes, tsetse flies, other biting flies and ticks. Currently his group is studying the chemical cues that mosquitoes use to locate their hosts as well as the exploitation of biological agents for the control of mosquitoes and ticks. His group is collaborating extensively with research institutions in Africa, Australia, Europe and the USA. The group is especially active in collaborative research programmes in Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania and the Gambia.
Prof. Takkens’ group has also worked on the ecological aspects of environmental change and vector-borne disease risk, in close collaboration with the World Health Organization and UNEP. Prof. Takken has published over 190 peer-reviewed articles and several books and contributed to several book chapters. Prof. Takken served as president of the European branch of the Society for Vector Ecology from 2000-2008 and has co-organized several international conferences and workshops in the field of vector ecology and control.