Jack Harlan
Encyclopedia
Jack Harlan was a botanist and agronomist.
in 1938 and a Ph.D. in genetics from the University of California
in 1942. He worked at the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 1942 to 1961. As a faculty member at Oklahoma State University, he refused to sign an oath of loyalty
; he went on to become a professor of plant genetics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, co-founding the Crop Evolution Laboratory there in 1966. He moved to New Orleans, Louisiana
in the 1980s and served as an adjunct professor at Tulane University
. Harlan published a variety of papers in the area of crop biodiversity
, and publicized his concerns that modern agricultural practices were contributing to the extinction of older, traditional varieties of crops.
Biography
Harlan earned a B.S. from George Washington UniversityGeorge Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
in 1938 and a Ph.D. in genetics from the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
in 1942. He worked at the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 1942 to 1961. As a faculty member at Oklahoma State University, he refused to sign an oath of loyalty
Loyalty oath
A loyalty oath is an oath of loyalty to an organization, institution, or state of which an individual is a member.In this context, a loyalty oath is distinct from pledge or oath of allegiance...
; he went on to become a professor of plant genetics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, co-founding the Crop Evolution Laboratory there in 1966. He moved to New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
in the 1980s and served as an adjunct professor at Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
. Harlan published a variety of papers in the area of crop biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
, and publicized his concerns that modern agricultural practices were contributing to the extinction of older, traditional varieties of crops.
Awards
- John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship (1959)
- American Grassland Council Merit Award (1962)
- International Service in Agronomy Award (1976)