last updated:
January 2008
John Cairns, Jr.
University Distinguished Professor of Environmental Biology Emeritus and
Director Emeritus, University Center for Environmental and Hazardous
Materials Studies
Department of Biological Sciences
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061 USA
telephone: 540-231-8010 (office), 540-951-2799 (home)
fax: 540-231-9307
email: jcairns@vt.edu
Cairns received
the PhD and MS from the
University
of Pennsylvania, an AB from Swarthmore College and completed a postdoctoral
course in isotope methodology at Hahnemann Medical College, Philadelphia.
He was Curator of Limnology at the Academy of Natural Sciences of
Philadelphia for 18 years and has taught at various universities and field
stations. Professional certifications include Qualified Fishery
Administrator by the American Fisheries Society, Senior Ecologist by the
Ecological Society of America, and the
Academy
of Board Certified Environmental Professionals.
Among his
honors are Member, National Academy of Sciences; Member, American
Philosophical Society; Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences;
Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science; Foreign Member,
Linnean Society of London; Founder's Award of the Society for Environmental
Toxicology and Chemistry; United Nations Environmental Programme Medal;
Fellow, Association for Women in Science; U.S. Presidential Commendation for
Environmental Activities; Icko Iben Award for Interdisciplinary Activities
from the American Water Resources Association; Phi Beta Kappa; B. Y.
Morrison Medal (awarded at the Pacific Rim Conference of the American
Chemical Society); Distinguished Scientist Award, American Institute of
Biological Sciences; Superior Achievement Award, U. S. Environmental
Protection Agency; Charles B. Dudley Award for excellence in publications
from the American Society for Testing and Materials; Life Achievement Award
in Science from the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Science Museum of
Virginia; American Fisheries Society Award of Excellence; Doctor of Science,
State University of New York at Binghamton; Fellow, Virginia Academy of
Sciences; Fellow, Eco-Ethics International Union; Twentieth Century
Distinguished Service Award, Ninth Lukacs Symposium; 2001 Ruth Patrick Award
for Environmental Problem Solving, American Society of Limnology and
Oceanography; 2001 Sustained Achievement Award, Renewable Natural Resources
Foundation; Morrill Chapter, Alpha Zeta, Class of 1944 as of 13 March 2002.
Cairns has served as both vice president and president of the American
Microscopical Society; has served on 18 National Research Council
committees, two as chair; is presently serving on 14 editorial boards; and
has served on the Science Advisory Board of the International Joint
Commission (U.S. and Canada) and on the USEPA Science Advisory Board. The
most recent of his 63 books are My Quest for Sustainable Use of the
Planet, 2005; Eco-Ethics and Sustainability Ethics, Book 2, Part 2,
2004; Handbook of Ecotoxicology, Second Edition, 2003; Ecological
and Sustainability Ethics, 2003; Eco-Ethics and Sustainability
Ethics, Book 2, Part 1, 2003: Goals and Conditions for a Sustainable
Planet, 2002; Japanese edition of Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems:
Science, Technology, and Public Policy, 1999.
Graduate
Committees Chaired: M.S. - 25 Ph.D. - 49
PUBLICATIONS
(Total = 1558 + 4 in press and 4 in review = 1566)
(The 623
journal articles appeared in 170 different journals)
Service on
National Research Council (the operating arm of the National Academy of
Sciences and National Academy of Engineering) Committees:
1. Panel
on Freshwater Aquatic Life and Wildlife, Water Quality Criteria 1972,
594 pp.
2.
Committee for the Working Conference on Principles of Protocols for
Evaluating Chemicals in the
Environment, Principles for Evaluating Chemicals in the Environment,
1975, 454 pp.
3.
Committee for Study of Environmental Manpower, Commission on Human
Resources, Manpower
for
Environmental Pollution Control, 1977, 427 pp.
4.
Military Environmental Research Committee (Installation Renovation
Subcommittee), 1977-79
5.
Geophysics Study Committee, Geophysics Research Council Board (to produce
report Scientific
Basis of Water Resource Management), 1979
6.
Five-Year Research Outlook (Chapter 8 - Water Resources)
7.
Committee for Water Supply Reviews
8.
Committee on Ecotoxicology (Chairman), Testing for Effects of Chemicals
on Ecosystems, 1981,
103
pp; Working Documents for Testing for Effects of Chemicals on Ecosystems,
1981, 157 pp.
9.
Committee on Application of Ecological Theory to Applied Problems, 1982
10.
Environmental Studies Board (September 1980-October 1982)
11. Task
Force on the Ecological Classification System for Implementing Environmental
Quality
Evaluation Procedures, 1981
12. Water
Science and Technology Board (Founding Member), 1982-85
13. Chair,
Committee on Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems: Science, Technology and
Public Policy,
1989-92
14.
Committee on U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Research, 1991-93
15.
Committee on Waste Disposal Options, 1992-93
16. Board on
Environmental Studies and Toxicology (BEST), 1992-93
17.
Correspondent, National Academy of Sciences Committee on Human Rights,
1991-1998
18. Report
Review Committee (Final approval of all National Academy Press
Publications), 1992-
1998