This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor: Peter Saundry
Howard T. Odum.
Howard T. Odum (1924 – 2002), American ecologist noted for his pioneering studies of energy flows in ecosystems, and for the application of those same principles to energy use in society. The results from Odum’s seminal research in the 1950s on the energetics of the food web in Silver Springs, Florida, and of the the coral reefs of Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshall Islands are found in nearly every text on ecology. Odum’s Environment, Power and Society (1971) was based on a pathbreaking application of thermodynamics and ecological energetics to energy flows in human society. Based on the work of Lotka, Odum argued that society faced many of the same energetic constraints that confront other organisms and systems. He introduced the concept of emergy, the amount of solar energy embodied in the products of the biosphere and human society. His work built important theoretical foundations for the subsequent development of the fields of ecological economics and ecological engineering. With his brother Eugene Odum, he was awarded the Crafoord Prize—the equivalent of the Nobel Prize in ecological sciences – from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in 1987.
Further Reading
Beyers, Robert J. and Howard T. Odum, 1993. Ecological Microcosms (Springer Advanced Texts in Life Sciences). Springer Verlag. ISBN: 0387979808
Ewel, Katherine C. and Howard T. Odum (Editor), 1985. Cypress Swamps. University Press, Florida, 472 pp. ISBN: 0813007143
Hall, Charles A. S. (Editor), 1995. Maximum Power : A Festschrift on Ecology, Energy, and Economy in Honor of Howard T. Odum. University Press, Colorado. ISBN: 0870813625
Odum, Howard T. and Odum, Elisabeth C., 2001. The Prosperous Way Down: Principles and Policies. University of Colorado Press.
Odum, Howard T. and Odum, Elizabeth C., 2000. Modeling for all Scales: An Introduction to System Simulation, Bk&Cd-Rom edition, Academic Press, 80 pp. ISBN: 0125241704
Odum, Howard T., and Woucik, Wlodzimierz and Pritchard, Lowell (Editors), 2000. Heavy Metals In The Environment: Using Wetlands for Their Removal. CRC Press, 344 pp. ISBN: 1566704014
Odum, Howard T., 1996. Environmental Accounting: Emergy and Environmental Decision Making. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, USA, 370 pp. ISBN: 0471114421
Odum, Howard T., Odum, Elisabeth C. and Mark T. Brown, 1998. Environment and Society in Florida. St. Lucie Press, 429 pp. ISBN: 1574440802
Odum, Howard T., 1994. Ecological and General Systems: An Introduction to Systems Ecology. University Press, Colorado. ISBN: 087081320X
Odum, Howard T., 1981. Energy Basis for Man and Nature. McGraw Hill Text. ISBN: 0070475113
Odum, Howard T., 1971. Environment, Power, and Society. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN: 047165275X
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Cutler Cleveland (Lead Author);Peter Saundry (Topic Editor) "Odum, Howard T.". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth August 22, 2008; Last revised Date August 22, 2008; Retrieved May 26, 2012 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Odum,_Howard_T.>
The Author
Editor-in-Chief
The Encyclopedia of Earth Cutler J. Cleveland is the founding Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Earth. Dr. Cleveland is currently a Professor in the Department of Geography and Environment at Boston University, with joint appointments in the Center for Energy and Environmental Studies and the Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer Range Future. He also is a Senior Fellow at the National Council for Science and the Environment in Washington D.C. Dr. Cleveland is als ... (Full Bio)
Howard T. Odum.
Howard T. Odum (1924 – 2002), American ecologist noted for his pioneering studies of energy flows in ecosystems, and for the application of those same principles to energy use in society. The results from Odum’s seminal research in the 1950s on the energetics of the food web in Silver Springs, Florida, and of the the coral reefs of Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshall Islands are found in nearly every text on ecology. Odum’s Environment, Power and Society (1971) was based on a pathbreaking application of thermodynamics and ecological energetics to energy flows in human society. Based on the work of Lotka, Odum argued that society faced many of the same energetic constraints that confront other organisms and systems. He introduced the concept of emergy, the amount of solar energy embodied in the products of the biosphere and human society. His work built important theoretical foundations for the subsequent development of the fields of ecological economics and ecological engineering. With his brother Eugene Odum, he was awarded the Crafoord Prize—the equivalent of the Nobel Prize in ecological sciences – from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in 1987.
Further Reading
Beyers, Robert J. and Howard T. Odum, 1993. Ecological Microcosms (Springer Advanced Texts in Life Sciences). Springer Verlag. ISBN: 0387979808
Ewel, Katherine C. and Howard T. Odum (Editor), 1985. Cypress Swamps. University Press, Florida, 472 pp. ISBN: 0813007143
Hall, Charles A. S. (Editor), 1995. Maximum Power : A Festschrift on Ecology, Energy, and Economy in Honor of Howard T. Odum. University Press, Colorado. ISBN: 0870813625
Odum, Howard T. and Odum, Elisabeth C., 2001. The Prosperous Way Down: Principles and Policies. University of Colorado Press.
Odum, Howard T. and Odum, Elizabeth C., 2000. Modeling for all Scales: An Introduction to System Simulation, Bk&Cd-Rom edition, Academic Press, 80 pp. ISBN: 0125241704
Odum, Howard T., and Woucik, Wlodzimierz and Pritchard, Lowell (Editors), 2000. Heavy Metals In The Environment: Using Wetlands for Their Removal. CRC Press, 344 pp. ISBN: 1566704014
Odum, Howard T., 1996. Environmental Accounting: Emergy and Environmental Decision Making. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, USA, 370 pp. ISBN: 0471114421
Odum, Howard T., Odum, Elisabeth C. and Mark T. Brown, 1998. Environment and Society in Florida. St. Lucie Press, 429 pp. ISBN: 1574440802
Odum, Howard T., 1994. Ecological and General Systems: An Introduction to Systems Ecology. University Press, Colorado. ISBN: 087081320X
Odum, Howard T., 1981. Energy Basis for Man and Nature. McGraw Hill Text. ISBN: 0070475113
Odum, Howard T., 1971. Environment, Power, and Society. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN: 047165275X
Are you absolutely sure you want to delete this article? This process cannot be undone and is permanent.
Howard T. Odum.
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