Dr. David I. Gibson studied zoology at the University of Nottingham, where he obtained the degree of B.Sc. (1st Class Honours) in 1967. A study of the parasites of a flatfish gained for him the degree of Ph.D., and in 1989 his Alma Mater of Nottingham granted him the degree of D.Sc.

Dr. Gibson joined the staff of the British Museum (Natural History) (now the Natural History Museum) in London in 1971, becoming Head of the Parasitic Worms Division in 1977. His research interests have centered on the systematics of helminth parasites, especially the digeneans of aquatic animals. Having produced more than 150 publications on this topic, he is now recognized as the world's foremost authority on the trematodes of fishes. The recognition of his expertise brought him numerous invitations to lecture in many places in the world. He was a visiting professor in the University of Queensland, Australia, and in the University of Tromso, Norway; he is also an honorary lecturer in the University of Stirling, Scotland. He was a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee in the Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, and is now a member of the evaluation committee in the same institute.

Dr. Gibson has also been in high demand as a guest speaker at many international symposia and congresses, delivering invited lectures at places as distinct geographically from one another as Scandinavia, the Czech republic, Bulgaria, Russia, and Uruguay. In many instances he was also involved in organizing these events. He takes an active part in the work of several scientific organization, serving on their governing committees. The federation of Latin American Parasitologists has made him an honorary member.

Dr. Gibson is currently editor-in-chief of Systematic Parasitology, but he also serves, or served, on the editorial boards of five other parasitological periodical.