J. Michael Scott
Encyclopedia
Dr. J. Michael Scott, a senior scientist, distinguished emeritus professor, environmentalist
and author
, was born in 1941 in San Diego, California
.
, Dr. Scott attended the University of Redlands
for one year before earning his bachelor's
and master's degree
s in marine biology
from San Diego State University
and a doctorate
in ornithology
from Oregon State University
. Currently he is a senior scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey, a leader with the Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research and a professor of Fish and Wildlife Resources at the University of Idaho
.
and served a two-year stint in Cartago
, Colombia
, where he founded a natural history museum, started a Red Cross swimming program, and coached a number of sports.
From 1974 to 1984, Dr. Scott served as a research biologist
for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Mauna Loa
Field Station in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
. It was his first assignment with the U.S. Department of Interior. From 1984 to 1986, he served as project leader of the California Condor Research Center in Ventura. In 1986 he was appointed to his current position as leader of the Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit in Moscow, Idaho. In addition, he is a professor in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources at the University of Idaho
, where he pioneered the Gap Analysis Program and served as program leader from 1989 to 1997.
Dr. Scott is an elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
and the American Ornithologists' Union
. Also, he is a past president of both The Cooper Ornithological Society and the Pacific Seabird Group, and has served on the boards of a number of professional societies and the science advisory boards of several non-profit conservation organizations.
He received the American Ornithologist’s Union 2006 Conservation Award, an International award presented for extraordinary scientific contributions by an individual to the conservation, restoration, or preservation of birds and their habitats. Dr. Scott is a past president of both The Cooper Ornithological Society and the Pacific Seabird Group, and has served on the boards of a number of professional societies and the science advisory boards of several non-profit conservation organizations.
In 2010, he was honored by the nonprofit Defenders of Wildlife
with its Spirit of Defenders Award for Public Service.
In 2006, Dr. Scott received the U.S. Department of Interior’s Distinguished Service Award, the highest award given to a career employee for a lifetime of service. Also, his professional accomplishments have been recognized by the Society for Conservation Biology
with both the Distinguished Achievement Award and the Edward T. La Roe III Memorial Award. He received a Twentieth Century Environmental Achiever Award at the Ninth Lukac's Symposium.
, an author and antiques
expert, and Jim Scott, a Senior Olympics
winner who helped pioneer and develop the game of racquetball
. He is the grandson of California artist
Esther Rose
, the nephew of the late Russian Orthodox Hieromonk Seraphim Rose
, brother of true crime author Cathy Scott
and antiques expert Cordelia Mendoza
. He is married to Sharon Scott and has two children, Kevin Scott and Heather Williamson.
Environmentalist
An environmentalist broadly supports the goals of the environmental movement, "a political and ethical movement that seeks to improve and protect the quality of the natural environment through changes to environmentally harmful human activities"...
and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, was born in 1941 in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
.
Education
A graduate of San Diego County's Helix High SchoolHelix High School
Helix High School, in La Mesa, California, is a charter high school built in 1952. It received its charter in 1998. Part of the Grossmont Union High School District, it serves a low to mid-level socioeconomic community and has a student body of approximately 2,400 pupils...
, Dr. Scott attended the University of Redlands
University of Redlands
The University of Redlands is a private liberal arts and sciences university located in Redlands, California. The university's campus sits on near downtown Redlands. The university was founded in 1907 and was associated with the American Baptist Church. The land for the university was donated by...
for one year before earning his bachelor's
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
and master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
s in marine biology
Marine biology
Marine biology is the scientific study of organisms in the ocean or other marine or brackish bodies of water. Given that in biology many phyla, families and genera have some species that live in the sea and others that live on land, marine biology classifies species based on the environment rather...
from San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
and a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in ornithology
Ornithology
Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds...
from Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
. Currently he is a senior scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey, a leader with the Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research and a professor of Fish and Wildlife Resources at the University of Idaho
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
.
Career
In 1963, Dr. Scott joined the Peace CorpsPeace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
and served a two-year stint in Cartago
Cartago
Cartago is the name of at least three different places:* Cartago Province, Costa Rica* Cartago, Costa Rica, capital of the province of Cartago* Cartago, Valle del Cauca, Colombia* Cartago, California, United States-See also:*Special:Allpages/Cartago...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, where he founded a natural history museum, started a Red Cross swimming program, and coached a number of sports.
From 1974 to 1984, Dr. Scott served as a research biologist
Biologist
A biologist is a scientist devoted to and producing results in biology through the study of life. Typically biologists study organisms and their relationship to their environment. Biologists involved in basic research attempt to discover underlying mechanisms that govern how organisms work...
for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Mauna Loa
Mauna Loa
Mauna Loa is one of five volcanoes that form the Island of Hawaii in the U.S. state of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean, and the largest on Earth in terms of volume and area covered. It is an active shield volcano, with a volume estimated at approximately , although its peak is about lower than that...
Field Station in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, established in 1916, is a United States National Park located in the U.S. State of Hawaii on the island of Hawaii. It encompasses two active volcanoes: Kīlauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, and Mauna Loa, the world's most massive volcano...
. It was his first assignment with the U.S. Department of Interior. From 1984 to 1986, he served as project leader of the California Condor Research Center in Ventura. In 1986 he was appointed to his current position as leader of the Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit in Moscow, Idaho. In addition, he is a professor in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources at the University of Idaho
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
, where he pioneered the Gap Analysis Program and served as program leader from 1989 to 1997.
Dr. Scott is an elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
and the American Ornithologists' Union
American Ornithologists' Union
The American Ornithologists' Union is an ornithological organization in the USA. Unlike the National Audubon Society, its members are primarily professional ornithologists rather than amateur birders...
. Also, he is a past president of both The Cooper Ornithological Society and the Pacific Seabird Group, and has served on the boards of a number of professional societies and the science advisory boards of several non-profit conservation organizations.
Awards
In April 2011, Dr. Scott was awarded the rank of Distinguished Emeritus Professor from the University of Idaho. The distinguished professor rank, which was given to two other professors in addition to Scott, was done to recognize “sustained excellence, as judged by peers, in scholarly, creative, and artistic achievement; breadth and depth of teaching in their discipline; and university service as well as service involving the application of scholarship, creative, or artistic activities that address the needs of one or more external publics,” according to a news release.He received the American Ornithologist’s Union 2006 Conservation Award, an International award presented for extraordinary scientific contributions by an individual to the conservation, restoration, or preservation of birds and their habitats. Dr. Scott is a past president of both The Cooper Ornithological Society and the Pacific Seabird Group, and has served on the boards of a number of professional societies and the science advisory boards of several non-profit conservation organizations.
In 2010, he was honored by the nonprofit Defenders of Wildlife
Defenders of Wildlife
Defenders of Wildlife is a United States-based, 501 non-profit organization founded in 1947, "dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities." The organization is active in political interventions and lobbying aimed at protection of wildlife, and...
with its Spirit of Defenders Award for Public Service.
In 2006, Dr. Scott received the U.S. Department of Interior’s Distinguished Service Award, the highest award given to a career employee for a lifetime of service. Also, his professional accomplishments have been recognized by the Society for Conservation Biology
Society for Conservation Biology
The Society for Conservation Biology is an 5013 non-profit international professional organization devoted to scientific study of the "maintenance, loss, and restoration of biological diversity." There are 10,000 members worldwide, including students and those in related non-academic sectors. ...
with both the Distinguished Achievement Award and the Edward T. La Roe III Memorial Award. He received a Twentieth Century Environmental Achiever Award at the Ninth Lukac's Symposium.
Family
Dr. Scott is the eldest son of Eileen Rose BusbyEileen Rose Busby
Eileen Rose Busby was an author and antiques expert who was featured on HGTV's Appraise It! show.-Early life:...
, an author and antiques
Antiques
An antique is an old collectible item. It is collected or desirable because of its age , beauty, rarity, condition, utility, personal emotional connection, and/or other unique features...
expert, and Jim Scott, a Senior Olympics
Senior Olympics
The National Senior Games or "Senior Olympics" is a sports competition for seniors from the United States. It is a multi-sport event specifically devoted to adults aged 50+ . It is composed of regional competitions held yearly in all American states...
winner who helped pioneer and develop the game of racquetball
Racquetball
For other sports often called "paddleball", see Paddleball .Racquetball is a racquet sport played with a hollow rubber ball in an indoor or outdoor court...
. He is the grandson of California artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
Esther Rose
Esther Rose
Esther Elvira Rose , an American painter, worked in oils, collage, silkscreen and watercolors.-Biography:Esther Holbeck, whose parents arrived at Ellis Island, separately, from Sweden and Norway, was born in Two Harbors, Minnesota, and at 20 married Frank Rose, an amateur photographer and a sports...
, the nephew of the late Russian Orthodox Hieromonk Seraphim Rose
Seraphim Rose
Seraphim Rose, born Eugene Dennis Rose , was an American hieromonk of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia who co-founded the St. Herman of Alaska Monastery in Platina, California. He also translated Orthodox Christian texts and authored several polemical works...
, brother of true crime author Cathy Scott
Cathy Scott
Cathy Scott is an American true crime writer and investigative journalist, born and raised in San Diego, United States growing up in nearby La Mesa, California...
and antiques expert Cordelia Mendoza
Cordelia Mendoza
Cordelia Mendoza is an antiques expert, volunteer, San Diego retailer, and author. Her volunteer work began at age 13 when she and her twin sister, Cathleen Scott, were named and represented the San Diego County Heart Association for a year as the Heart Fund Twins, after Mendoza successfully...
. He is married to Sharon Scott and has two children, Kevin Scott and Heather Williamson.
Books
- Forest bird communities of the Hawaiian Islands {1986)
- Estimating number of terrestrial birds 1986, with C.J. Ralph, repint 2003)
- Evolution, ecology, conservation and management of Hawaiian birds: A vanishing avifauna (2001, with S. Conant and C. Van Ripper III)
- Predicting species occurrences: Issues of accuracy and scale (2002, with Pat Hegland and others)
- The Endangered Species Act at 30, Vol. I: Renewing the conservation promise (2005, with D. Goble and F.W. Davis)
- The Endangered Species Act at Thirty, Vol. II: Conserving biodiversity in human dominated landscapes (2006, with D. Goble and F.W. Davis)