After finishing school Becker studied at Heidelberg University and obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in biology, physics and chemistry in 1974. He obtained a Master of Science degree in biology in 1976 at the Zoological Institute of the same university in 1976. He then obtained a doctorate in Natural Science there, followed by professorship in biology with Venia Legendi in Zoologie at the Faculty of Bioscience in 1993. He has been a lecturer at Heidelberg University since 1977, where he became a professor in 2008, and gives tutorials in medical entomology und oncology at its Zoological Institute. As a professor, Beccker supervises doctoral students in entomology and applied field research in Heidelberg. Becker has been active in mosquito control in the upper Rhine since 1976, and since 1981 is the Scientific Director of the German Mosquito Control Organisation and Technical Director of the Community Action Committee for the Fight Against Mosquito Infestation in Speyer. In addition Becker is involved in numerous international organisations and is founding president of the World Mosquito Control Association. Norbert Becker is married with four grown-up children.
Activities (selection)
Member of the Steering Committee for biology and vector control of the in Geneva 1989-1994
Advisor to WHO / TDR in applied field research, extensive vector-associated consultation as member of the SC for BCV, WHO / TDR in Asia, Africa and South America since 1995
Director of the Society for Vector Ecology von 1988-1990
President of the worldwide active organisation SOVE in 1993
Managing Director and Vide-President of the European Mosquito Control Association since 2000.
Member of the German Expert Committee Mosquitoes as vectors of human diseases since 2015
Becker‘s goal is to establish a globally active organisation for the control of mosquitos as carriers of disease within the world-wide organisation WMCA in order to limit disease spread by mosquitos in a coordinated manner. By 2018 Becker had published more than two hundred articles
Honours and Awards
National Medal of the Slovenian Republic for his successful involvement in mosquito control, presented by the Slovenian Minister of Tourism in Bonn in 1992
Distinguished Life Time Service Award for dedication and outstanding services to the Society for Vector Ecology, International Congress of SOVE, Spain 2017
Literature
Norbert Becker, Glaser, P., Magin, H.: Biological Mosquito Control on the Upper Rhine, 20 Years of the Communal Action Organisation against Mosquito Infestation 1996.
Norbert Becker et al.ːMosquitoes and Their Control, Verlag: Springer, 2nd edition 2010
