Michael Shaffer 



In 1951 Michael Shaffer was employed in the Microscopy 

 Laboratory at Gerrard's, commercial biologists in London, 

 as a general microscopist. After six months he took up new 

 employment as a technician in the Department of Zoology 

 at University College London under Professor P.B. Medawar; 

 where for four years he became experienced in laboratory 

 management, in preparing material for the departments 

 famous museum of comparative anatomy, in increasing his 

 major interest in Entomology, in developing an interest in 

 osteology and in running the departments research aquarium. 



Following a two year period in National Service, he returned to U.C.L. for a short while, working 

 directely with Professor Medawar on his skin grafting research team. During National Service 

 from 1956-58, Michael served in the R.A.M.C. Qualifying as a Hygiene Assistant and receiving 

 other basic medical qualifications, serving in London based at Horse Guards Parade and later in the 

 British Sector of Germany based at I s British Headquarters in Bielefeld, was responsible for 

 inspecting military camps throughout the sector. 



Following application to join the staff at the British Museum (Natural History), he 

 commenced in this branch of the Scientific Civil Sevice as a Scientific Assistant in the Department 

 of Entomology soon after leaving the army early in 1958. In the same year Michael became part of 

 the Microlepidoptera Section working with a small team on this extensive group of moths. From 

 the srart he worked exclusively on curating and researching the world faunas of several superfamilies, 

 the Alucitoidea, Pterophoroidea, Hyblaeoidea Thyridoidea and the huge group Pyraloidea, a working 

 vocation to be cherished. 



To entomologists world wide this famous museum is known simply as The BM; with a 

 comprehensive insect collection and libraries second to none, it forms an idyllic working environment 

 for the study of taxonomy and is recognised as a leading centre for the study of insect taxonomy. 

 Being a major centre meant that from the start it was always possible to work with leading specialists 

 from around the world. From the outset, the most important tasks were to establish order amongst 

 the sprawling numbers of cabinets and tackle a backlog of work inherited from the post-war years, 

 but most especially to become thoroughly familiar with the literature, collections and world fauna. 

 New skills were acquired, from dissecting precious type material to developing the art of ink drawing 

 for scientific illustrations and preparing illustration plates for publication. Curation of large groups 

 within the superfamiles developed into mainly unpublished major taxonomic revisions, but time 

 was also found for writing numbers of taxonomic papers and constructing major faunal checklists. 

 The microlepidoptera team was also involved in training foreign students and in the very popular 

 annual microlepidopterist's workshop for teaching aspects of study to enthusiastic amateur 

 entomologists. Over the years the continuous correspondence from around the world always formed 

 a large portion of work, from dealing with queries to huge numbers of specimen determinations. 

 Photographing type material from Museums around the world was always an important part of 

 building up information on the world fauna and compiling computer databases. Travel opportunities 

 whether official or as part of holidays commenced fairly early on, which took Michael and his wife 

 Monika to Canada, U.S.A., many parts of Europe, especially the Channel Islands and on to Sri 

 Lanka, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand and Fiji. In 1996 as a Higher Scientific Officer, official 

 retirement age was reached. Michael is acknowledged as one of the major authorities on his groups 

 of Lepidoptera and has continued at the museum carrying out his own research plus voluntary work 

 as a Scientific Associate. 



