- Robert Ulanowicz
Robert E. Ulanowicz (born
September 17 ,1943 inBaltimore ) is an American theoretical ecologist andphilosopher who is best known for his search for a "unified theory of ecology". He is Professor of Theoretical Ecology at the University of Maryland'sChesapeake Biological Laboratory . Ulanowicz received both his BS and PhD inchemical engineering fromJohns Hopkins University in 1964 and 68, respectively. Dr. Ulanowicz currently resides inGainesville, Florida .Overview
Ulanowicz uses techniques from
information theory andthermodynamics in order to study the organization of the flows of energy and nutrients within ecosystems. Although his ideas have been primarily applied in ecology, many of his concepts are abstract and have been applied to other areas in which flow networks arise, such aseconomics .Although Ulanowicz initially began his career with some substantial successes in modeling of ecological systems using differential equations, he soon began to reach the limits of this approach. Realizing that any ecosystem is a
Complex system , he decided to move away from what he saw as the inappropriate use of a reductionist approach, and instead began to work towards development of theoretical measures of the ecosystem as a whole, such asascendency .Works & Recognition
Ulanowicz has authored or co-authored over a hundred articles in theoretical ecology and related areas of philosophy, especially those dealing with
autocatalysis andcausality . He has authored two books and is working on a third. [ [http://www.mdsg.umd.edu/CQ/V04N3/side4/ Profile: A Scientist for All Seasons] Chesapeake Quarterly, Vol. 4, No. 3]*"Ecology: The Ascendant Perspective", Columbia University Press (1997) (ISBN: 0231108281) - Written for a more general audience
*"Growth and Development - Ecosystems phenomenology", Springer (1986) (ISBN: 0387962654) - A more technical exposition of Ulanowicz's ideasUlanowicz was named the recipient of the 2007
Ilya Prigogine Medal for outstanding research in ecological systems. [ [http://www.wessex.ac.uk/conferences/2007/eco07/ ECOSUD 2007: Sixth International Conference on Ecosystems and Sustainable Development] ] He participated in theStock Exchange of Visions project in 2007. [ [http://www.stockexchangeofvisions.org/speaker.php?id=49 Stock Exchange of Visions: Robert E. Ulanowicz, Ecologist] ]References
External links
* [http://cbl.umces.edu/~ulan/ Robert E. Ulanowicz's Home Page]
* [http://www.stockexchangeofvisions.org/speaker.php?id=49 Stock Exchange Of Visions: Visions of Robert E. Ulanowicz (Video Interviews)]
* [http://isol.alachuaclerk.org/ Alachua County Clerk of Courts]
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