Eric Pianka
Eric R. Pianka | |
---|---|
Born | Eric Rodger Pianka January 23, 1939 |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Herpetology |
Institutions | University of Texas at Austin |
Website | U Texas at Austin writings |
Eric Rodger Pianka (January 23, 1939 – September 12, 2022)[1] was an American herpetologist and evolutionary ecologist.[2]
Early life
Pianka was born in
Pianka graduated from
Career
Since 1968, Pianka had been on the faculty of the University of Texas at Austin. His research centered on empirical and theoretical components of natural history, systematics, community and landscape ecology.[7]
Pianka had performed extensive ecological investigations on vertebrate communities in three desert systems on three continents: the
Pianka's latest work focused on lizard communities in Australia. His research projects included study of the phylogeny and ecology of a number of groups of Australian lizards and an extensive study of the unique biotic landscape produced by Australian brush fires.
Pianka had trained other scientists and twelve of his former graduate students are professors at major universities, including Kirk Winemiller, a professor at Texas A&M University,[10] and Raymond Huey, a professor at the University of Washington.[11] Additionally, he taught a range of popular undergraduate courses; he received an award for excellence in teaching from UT Austin in 1999.[12]
Texas Academy of Science speech
Pianka's acceptance speech
Pianka has stated that Mims took his statements out of context and that he was simply describing what would happen from biological principles alone if present human population trends continue, and that he was not in any way advocating for it to happen. The Texas Academy, which hosted the speech, released a statement asserting that "Many of Dr. Pianka's statements have been severely misconstrued and sensationalized."[18] However, Kenneth Summy,[19] an Academy member who observed the speech, wrote a letter[20] of support for Mims' account, saying "Dr. Pianka chose to deliver an inflammatory message in his keynote address, so he should not be surprised to be the recipient of a lot of criticism from TAS membership. Forrest Mims did not misrepresent anything regarding the presentation."
Pianka appeared on NBC-affiliate KXAN Austin[21] and on two cable talk-shows and posted a statement on his University of Texas website that said in part:[22]
I have two grandchildren and I want them to inherit a stable Earth. But I fear for them. Humans have overpopulated the Earth and in the process have created an ideal nutritional substrate on which bacteria and viruses (microbes) will grow and prosper. We are behaving like bacteria growing on an agar plate,[23] flourishing until natural limits are reached or until another microbe colonizes and takes over, using them as their resource. In addition to our extremely high population density, we are social and mobile, exactly the conditions that favor growth and spread of pathogenic (disease-causing) microbes. I believe it is only a matter of time until microbes once again assert control over our population, since we are unwilling to control it ourselves. This idea has been espoused by ecologists for at least four decades and is nothing new. People just don't want to hear it. I do not bear any ill will toward people. However, I am convinced that the world, including all humanity, WOULD clearly be much better off without so many of us. Simply stopping the destruction of
global warming. We need to make a transition to a sustainable world. If we don't, nature is going to do it for us in ways of her own choosing. By definition, these ways will not be ours and they won't be much fun. Think about that.
As a consequence of the controversy, Pianka and members of the Texas Academy of Science received death threats.[24][25] According to Pianka, his daughters were worried about his and their safety, and his life had been "turned upside-down by 'right-wing fools'."[26]
Awards and accolades
Pianka was a 1978
Pianka received the 2006 Distinguished Texas Scientist Award from the Texas Academy of Science. He and his research were featured in a
In 2015, Pianka was awarded the Auffenberg Medal in recognition of his extensive research on monitor lizards by the Monitor Lizard Specialist Group. In the same year, he received the highest award of the Ecological Society of America, the Eminent Ecologist Award.[30]
Works
Pianka had produced about 200 scientific papers, as well as the textbook, Evolutionary Ecology, which has gone through seven editions and has been translated into five languages. In 2003, he also published Lizards: Windows to the Evolution of Diversity, coauthored with longtime collaborator Laurie Vitt, won the Grand Prize at the Robert W. Hamilton Faculty Author Award at The University of Texas at Austin as well as the Oklahoma Book Award from the Oklahoma Center for the Book.[31]
Books
- Pianka, Eric R. (1983), Evolutionary Ecology (Fourth Edition), ISBN 0-06-045216-1
- Pianka ER (1994). The Lizard Man Speaks. University of Texas Press. ISBN 0-292-76552-5.
- Pianka ER (1986). Ecology and Natural History of Desert Lizards. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-08148-4.
- Pianka, Eric and Dennis King (2004), Varanoid Lizards of the World, Indiana University Press.
- Pianka, Eric and Laurie Vitt (2003), Lizards: Windows to the Evolution of Diversity, University of California Press.
References
- ^ Eric Rodger Pianka
- ^ "Eric Pianka". Biology Department at University of Texas at Austin. 2009. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
- ^ a b Bazooka Injuries Archived August 5, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Pianka and Vitt, 2003.
- ^ MacArthur and Pianka, 1966.
- ^ Robert MacArthur website
- ^ Pianka lab site Archived February 6, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Current research Archived August 7, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Varanus eremius
- ^ Winemiller lab Archived September 2, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Home – Raymond B. Huey
- ^ Undergraduate courses Archived August 7, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Pearcey, Rick (April 4, 2006). "Dr. "Doom" Pianka speaks: transcript from the speech that started it all". The Pearcey Report. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
- ^ "109th Meeting of the Texas Academy of Science: Program and Abstracts (2006)". Texas Academy of Science. Archived from the original on March 4, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
- ^ M. Mims III, Forrest (March 31, 2006). "Meeting Doctor Doom". The Citizen Scientist. Archived from the original on April 7, 2006.
- ^ William Dembski (April 2, 2006). "Eric Pianka: The Department of Homeland Security needs to interview you". Uncommon Descent.
- ^ "Professor's population speeches unnerve some". Austin American-Statesman. April 5, 2006. Archived from the original on July 5, 2007. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
- ^ "Texas Academy of Science statement on Pianka". The Panda's Thumb. Archived from the original on April 10, 2006. Retrieved April 8, 2006.
- University of Texas, Pan American.
- ^ Pearcey, Rick (April 12, 2006). "Support for Mims on Dr. "Doom" speech". The Pearcey Report. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
- ^ "UT Professor Clearing The Record On Speech". NBC. April 3, 2006.
- ^ What nobody wants to hear, but everyone needs to know Archived December 5, 2010, at the Wayback Machine – Eric R. Pianka
- ^ Reference provided by Pianka in his text: "Exponential Population Growth", from Pianka, E. R. Evolutionary Ecology; 6th edition; Addison–Wesley; 2000; last updated online on 7 July 2007
- ^ "Professor criticized over comments about impending pandemic". KTRK Houston, TX (ABC). Associated Press. April 4, 2006. Archived from the original on July 7, 2012.
- ^ Myers, Paul Z. "Texas Academy of Science getting death threats over Pianka". Pharyngula (blog). scienceblogs.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2011.
- ^ "Professor's population speeches unnerve some". American Statesman. April 5, 2006. Archived from the original on July 5, 2007.
- ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. ("Pianka", p. 207).
- ^ Honors and awards Archived August 7, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ ASIH Resolution on Piankification Archived September 2, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Eminent Ecologist Award". Ecological Society of America. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
- ^ Awards for "Lizards-Windows to the Evolution of Diversity"
External links
- Eric Pianka at IMDb
- Pianka curriculum vitae
- Transcript of Pianka's speech
- Transcript of Pianka's St. Edward's Speech March 31, 2006 comprehensive
- PBS Nova "Lizard Kings" webpage