Physicist and Nobel laureate John Bardeen is pictured smiling warmly, wearing glasses, a dark suit, and a patterned tie. Known for being the only person to win the Nobel Prize in Physics twice, Bardeen made groundbreaking contributions to the invention of the transistor and the development of the theory of superconductivity.
Physicist and Nobel laureate John Bardeen is pictured smiling warmly, wearing glasses, a dark suit, and a patterned tie. Known for being the only person to win the Nobel Prize in Physics twice, Bardeen made groundbreaking contributions to the invention of the transistor and the development of the theory of superconductivity.

Eugene Pleasants Odum

Historical

Historical

Sep 17, 1913

-

Aug 10, 2002

Physicist and Nobel laureate John Bardeen is pictured smiling warmly, wearing glasses, a dark suit, and a patterned tie. Known for being the only person to win the Nobel Prize in Physics twice, Bardeen made groundbreaking contributions to the invention of the transistor and the development of the theory of superconductivity.

Eugene Pleasants Odum

Historical

Historical

Sep 17, 1913

-

Aug 10, 2002

Biography

FAQ

Quotes

Biography

Eugene Odum is often called the "father of modern ecology" due to his contribution to ecosystem ecology. He was born in Newport, New Hampshire, and grew up in a family which attached great importance to education. His father was Howard W. Odum, a sociologist, so he adopted his father's holistic view of science. Odum, consequently, embarked on his Ph. D. in zoology with particular emphasis on ecology at the University of Illinois, where he was under the tutelage of the ecologist Victor Shelford. Odum's initial experiences at Edmund Niles Huyck Preserve laid the foundation for the latter's ecological research accomplishments, especially in ecosystem research.

Howard T. Odum, in his textbook Fundamentals of Ecology, published in 1953 together with his brother E. P. Odum, provided the base for the ecosystem concept. It was not only an academic work: the book increasingly became a focus of the environmental movement of the 1960s and 1970s. To any living system, he stressed the interdependence of the ecosystem, pointing to the fact that ecosystems rely on energy movement and nutrient cycling. His "systems ecology" concept was adopted to develop ecological thinking, affecting environmental politics and education worldwide.

Odum's work at the University of Georgia led him to establish the Institute of Ecology, later named Gene P. Odum School of Ecology. He also set up field stations like Savannah River Ecology Laboratory and the University of Georgia Marine Institute and made notable advancements in radiation ecology and coastal wetlands preservation. Thanks to his efforts, the destruction of Georgia's coastal marshes in the 1970s was averted. A distinguished academician, Odum trained generations of ecologists and environmental scientists.

Odum was awarded many honors for his work, including the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement in 1977 and the Crafoord Prize in Ecology in 1987. He always emphasized the need for people to have an intermediary position between them and the environment, which he underlined in his later works. Odum is no longer alive, having died in 2002; however, his work continues to be felt and seen through the numerous institutions and people he mentored. His work paved the way to unraveling the connectedness of living organisms on Earth.

Quotes

"Ecosystem is a concept that is more than the mere sum of all the individual entities that make up the ecosystem."
"Ecosystems are metabolising systems like organisms."
"Energy flow is the fundamental concept that helps characterize ecosystems' structure and function."
"Thus, to comprehend nature, one has to look at all parts of it."
"Ecology is the science of the economy of nature."
"Another concept is biodiversity, which is essential in maintaining the stability of ecosystems."
"It is high time that humanity realizes they must coexist with nature."
"Environment is a complex system which acts and reacts in response to change."
"Environment conservation is not something that can be afforded to be ignored but a necessity."
"Sustainability means the extent to which ecosystems can be preserved for future generations."
"In ecological conservation, the world must be seen as one place, but acted upon as many individual locations."
"Ecosystems are self-sustaining, and every species has a role in the said ecosystems."
"Some things that require conservation include the following: Ecosystem integrity is sacrosanct in conservation."
"Nature recycles everything; there is no waste."
"That is why symbiosis is the basis of the functioning of ecosystems."

FAQ

Who is Eugene Odum?

Eugene Odum is credited for initiating the concept of ecosystems and writing the textbook Fundamentals of Ecology.

What did Odum do in his most fundamental contribution to ecology?

Odum's most significant contribution was the systematic and popularization of the ecosystem ecology and the importance of the organisms' interaction in ecosystems.

When did Eugene Odum find the Institute of Ecology?

Odum founded the Institute of Ecology at the University of Georgia in 1967.

Why is Odum's book Fundamentals of Ecology important?

Fundamentals of Ecology was the first general textbook on ecology, which popularized the ecosystem concept and systems ecology.

Odum contributed to environmentalism in which ways?

Odum's work contributed to the formation of the modern environmental movement because he showed how everything is interrelated and how human activity affects natural systems.

Which awards did Eugene Odum receive for his works?

Odum founded the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory and the University of Georgia Marine Institute.

Which field research stations did Odum set up?

Odum founded the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory and the University of Georgia Marine Institute.

What did Eugene Odum do for radiation ecology?

Odum's work at the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory concerns radiation's impact on ecology, especially in fallout regions.

What is systems ecology?

Systems ecology studies ecosystems as systems with system properties, including energy flow, nutrient cycling, and organism interdependence.

When did Eugene Odum die?

Eugene Odum was killed on 10 August 2002 in Athens, Georgia.

Biography

FAQ

Quotes

Biography

Eugene Odum is often called the "father of modern ecology" due to his contribution to ecosystem ecology. He was born in Newport, New Hampshire, and grew up in a family which attached great importance to education. His father was Howard W. Odum, a sociologist, so he adopted his father's holistic view of science. Odum, consequently, embarked on his Ph. D. in zoology with particular emphasis on ecology at the University of Illinois, where he was under the tutelage of the ecologist Victor Shelford. Odum's initial experiences at Edmund Niles Huyck Preserve laid the foundation for the latter's ecological research accomplishments, especially in ecosystem research.

Howard T. Odum, in his textbook Fundamentals of Ecology, published in 1953 together with his brother E. P. Odum, provided the base for the ecosystem concept. It was not only an academic work: the book increasingly became a focus of the environmental movement of the 1960s and 1970s. To any living system, he stressed the interdependence of the ecosystem, pointing to the fact that ecosystems rely on energy movement and nutrient cycling. His "systems ecology" concept was adopted to develop ecological thinking, affecting environmental politics and education worldwide.

Odum's work at the University of Georgia led him to establish the Institute of Ecology, later named Gene P. Odum School of Ecology. He also set up field stations like Savannah River Ecology Laboratory and the University of Georgia Marine Institute and made notable advancements in radiation ecology and coastal wetlands preservation. Thanks to his efforts, the destruction of Georgia's coastal marshes in the 1970s was averted. A distinguished academician, Odum trained generations of ecologists and environmental scientists.

Odum was awarded many honors for his work, including the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement in 1977 and the Crafoord Prize in Ecology in 1987. He always emphasized the need for people to have an intermediary position between them and the environment, which he underlined in his later works. Odum is no longer alive, having died in 2002; however, his work continues to be felt and seen through the numerous institutions and people he mentored. His work paved the way to unraveling the connectedness of living organisms on Earth.

Quotes

"Ecosystem is a concept that is more than the mere sum of all the individual entities that make up the ecosystem."
"Ecosystems are metabolising systems like organisms."
"Energy flow is the fundamental concept that helps characterize ecosystems' structure and function."
"Thus, to comprehend nature, one has to look at all parts of it."
"Ecology is the science of the economy of nature."
"Another concept is biodiversity, which is essential in maintaining the stability of ecosystems."
"It is high time that humanity realizes they must coexist with nature."
"Environment is a complex system which acts and reacts in response to change."
"Environment conservation is not something that can be afforded to be ignored but a necessity."
"Sustainability means the extent to which ecosystems can be preserved for future generations."
"In ecological conservation, the world must be seen as one place, but acted upon as many individual locations."
"Ecosystems are self-sustaining, and every species has a role in the said ecosystems."
"Some things that require conservation include the following: Ecosystem integrity is sacrosanct in conservation."
"Nature recycles everything; there is no waste."
"That is why symbiosis is the basis of the functioning of ecosystems."

FAQ

Who is Eugene Odum?

Eugene Odum is credited for initiating the concept of ecosystems and writing the textbook Fundamentals of Ecology.

What did Odum do in his most fundamental contribution to ecology?

Odum's most significant contribution was the systematic and popularization of the ecosystem ecology and the importance of the organisms' interaction in ecosystems.

When did Eugene Odum find the Institute of Ecology?

Odum founded the Institute of Ecology at the University of Georgia in 1967.

Why is Odum's book Fundamentals of Ecology important?

Fundamentals of Ecology was the first general textbook on ecology, which popularized the ecosystem concept and systems ecology.

Odum contributed to environmentalism in which ways?

Odum's work contributed to the formation of the modern environmental movement because he showed how everything is interrelated and how human activity affects natural systems.

Which awards did Eugene Odum receive for his works?

Odum founded the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory and the University of Georgia Marine Institute.

Which field research stations did Odum set up?

Odum founded the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory and the University of Georgia Marine Institute.

What did Eugene Odum do for radiation ecology?

Odum's work at the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory concerns radiation's impact on ecology, especially in fallout regions.

What is systems ecology?

Systems ecology studies ecosystems as systems with system properties, including energy flow, nutrient cycling, and organism interdependence.

When did Eugene Odum die?

Eugene Odum was killed on 10 August 2002 in Athens, Georgia.

Biography

FAQ

Quotes

Biography

Eugene Odum is often called the "father of modern ecology" due to his contribution to ecosystem ecology. He was born in Newport, New Hampshire, and grew up in a family which attached great importance to education. His father was Howard W. Odum, a sociologist, so he adopted his father's holistic view of science. Odum, consequently, embarked on his Ph. D. in zoology with particular emphasis on ecology at the University of Illinois, where he was under the tutelage of the ecologist Victor Shelford. Odum's initial experiences at Edmund Niles Huyck Preserve laid the foundation for the latter's ecological research accomplishments, especially in ecosystem research.

Howard T. Odum, in his textbook Fundamentals of Ecology, published in 1953 together with his brother E. P. Odum, provided the base for the ecosystem concept. It was not only an academic work: the book increasingly became a focus of the environmental movement of the 1960s and 1970s. To any living system, he stressed the interdependence of the ecosystem, pointing to the fact that ecosystems rely on energy movement and nutrient cycling. His "systems ecology" concept was adopted to develop ecological thinking, affecting environmental politics and education worldwide.

Odum's work at the University of Georgia led him to establish the Institute of Ecology, later named Gene P. Odum School of Ecology. He also set up field stations like Savannah River Ecology Laboratory and the University of Georgia Marine Institute and made notable advancements in radiation ecology and coastal wetlands preservation. Thanks to his efforts, the destruction of Georgia's coastal marshes in the 1970s was averted. A distinguished academician, Odum trained generations of ecologists and environmental scientists.

Odum was awarded many honors for his work, including the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement in 1977 and the Crafoord Prize in Ecology in 1987. He always emphasized the need for people to have an intermediary position between them and the environment, which he underlined in his later works. Odum is no longer alive, having died in 2002; however, his work continues to be felt and seen through the numerous institutions and people he mentored. His work paved the way to unraveling the connectedness of living organisms on Earth.

Quotes

"Ecosystem is a concept that is more than the mere sum of all the individual entities that make up the ecosystem."
"Ecosystems are metabolising systems like organisms."
"Energy flow is the fundamental concept that helps characterize ecosystems' structure and function."
"Thus, to comprehend nature, one has to look at all parts of it."
"Ecology is the science of the economy of nature."
"Another concept is biodiversity, which is essential in maintaining the stability of ecosystems."
"It is high time that humanity realizes they must coexist with nature."
"Environment is a complex system which acts and reacts in response to change."
"Environment conservation is not something that can be afforded to be ignored but a necessity."
"Sustainability means the extent to which ecosystems can be preserved for future generations."
"In ecological conservation, the world must be seen as one place, but acted upon as many individual locations."
"Ecosystems are self-sustaining, and every species has a role in the said ecosystems."
"Some things that require conservation include the following: Ecosystem integrity is sacrosanct in conservation."
"Nature recycles everything; there is no waste."
"That is why symbiosis is the basis of the functioning of ecosystems."

FAQ

Who is Eugene Odum?

Eugene Odum is credited for initiating the concept of ecosystems and writing the textbook Fundamentals of Ecology.

What did Odum do in his most fundamental contribution to ecology?

Odum's most significant contribution was the systematic and popularization of the ecosystem ecology and the importance of the organisms' interaction in ecosystems.

When did Eugene Odum find the Institute of Ecology?

Odum founded the Institute of Ecology at the University of Georgia in 1967.

Why is Odum's book Fundamentals of Ecology important?

Fundamentals of Ecology was the first general textbook on ecology, which popularized the ecosystem concept and systems ecology.

Odum contributed to environmentalism in which ways?

Odum's work contributed to the formation of the modern environmental movement because he showed how everything is interrelated and how human activity affects natural systems.

Which awards did Eugene Odum receive for his works?

Odum founded the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory and the University of Georgia Marine Institute.

Which field research stations did Odum set up?

Odum founded the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory and the University of Georgia Marine Institute.

What did Eugene Odum do for radiation ecology?

Odum's work at the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory concerns radiation's impact on ecology, especially in fallout regions.

What is systems ecology?

Systems ecology studies ecosystems as systems with system properties, including energy flow, nutrient cycling, and organism interdependence.

When did Eugene Odum die?

Eugene Odum was killed on 10 August 2002 in Athens, Georgia.

Life and achievements

Early life

Eugene Odum was born on 17 September 1913 in Newport, New Hampshire, to a family extensively involved in academics and the social sciences. His father was Howard W. Odum, a sociologist, which may have influenced Eugene's holistic view of science. Odum's early childhood interest was in nature, especially birds, and to enhance his interest, he was enrolled in a nature class. He completed his bachelor's and master's degrees in zoology at the University of North Carolina and then went for his Ph. D in ecology at the University of Illinois in 1939. His initial research dealt with birds' anatomy and physiological ecology. In these years, he started developing his concepts about the roles of different organisms in an ecosystem.

Odum married Martha Ann Huff in 1939, and the couple was blessed with two sons. The same year, he took up a resident naturalist position at the Edmund Niles Huyck Preserve in New York, where he started his ecosystems research. He got an appointment at the University of Georgia in 1940, and his love for teaching ecology was well-developed in his career. Odum was convinced that ecology should be an inalienable part of biological curriculums and devoted much of his time to developing this discipline in and out of the classroom.

Legacy

Eugene Odum's significant contribution to the world is in the concepts he introduced about ecosystems and their interactions. He defined the ecosystem as a functional unit of nature that impacted not only the academic study of ecology but also the formulation of environmental policies and the people's awareness of ecological problems. Odum's work was to justify the scientific conservation of the environment, and the system approach enabled him to link the biological and social sciences. The principles he outlined in the textbook Fundamentals of Ecology are still used worldwide in ecology classes, influencing generations of ecologists and environmental scientists.

His research at the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory and the University of Georgia Marine Institute helped to further the field of radiation ecology and coastal environments, respectively. He played a significant role in preserving Georgia's coastal wetlands, which led to enacting the Coastal Marshlands Protection Act of 1970. His work to advance the notion of ecosystems as energy and nutrient cycles of systems with the capacity for self-organization provided the foundation for contemporary environmental management and sustainability.

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Your donation today shapes the future of how families and friends connect.
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Milestone moments

Sep 1, 1939

Completion of Ph. D. and Marriage
Eugene Odum graduated with a Ph. D. in zoology from the University of Illinois with a particular interest in ecology.
The same year, he married Martha Ann Huff, who would later be his assistant and collaborator in his scientific projects.

In Odum's doctoral work, he established the basis for his future research in ecology, mainly focusing on the interdependency of ecosystems.
His marriage to Martha would also play a role in his private and career life since she encouraged his research and creativity.

Feb 14, 1940

Joining the University of Georgia
Odum got a chance to join the University of Georgia as an instructor, which marked his career.
He insisted on introducing ecology to biology courses, which was not accepted initially.

However, Odum continued his efforts to advance ecological education and established the Institute of Ecology, which has grown to be a prestigious environmental research and learning institution.
His tenacity in making ecology an essential branch of biological sciences would revolutionize the study area.

Nov 4, 1953

Publication of Fundamentals of Ecology
Howard T. Odum and his brother, Stuart, co-authored Fundamentals of Ecology, the first ecology textbook.
The book popularized the concept of ecosystems and became a reference book for ecology.

In this aspect, the textbook was unprecedented in its approach, devoted to combining biological systems with physical and chemical ones.
It trained a generation of ecologists and was involved in the environmental movement, creating ecosystem awareness.

Jul 16, 1967

The Institute of Ecology was thus established.
Odum established the Institute of Ecology at the University of Georgia, which later grew to be one of the premier institutions for ecology.
The Institute also helped to develop the interdisciplinary study of ecosystems using biology and other sciences.

This step enhanced Odum's position as a founder of ecology and offered a basis to advance his studies on the mechanisms of ecosystems.
It was later renamed the Eugene P. Odum School of Ecology, the world's first ecology school.

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