Ralph A. Lewin
Encyclopedia
Ralph Arnold Lewin was an Anglo-American biologist
, known as "the father of green algae genetics". He was born in London and later moved to America. He also was known as a poetry author.
from 1939 - 47, graduating with a B.A.
in 1942 and MA in 1946, whilst at Cambridge he focussed on Botany. He then studied at Yale University
from 1947 - 51 graduating with an M.S.
in 1949 and a PhD
in Botany in 1950. In 1971 (or 1972) he was made a Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) of the University of Cambridge.
at the University of California-San Diego and was considered a leading authority in multiple areas of marine biology.
Lewin joined the Scripps institution as an associate professor of marine biology in 1960 and retired from that position as a full professor in 1991, remaining extremely active in laboratory and field research and lecturing nationally and internationally. He helped organize and teach courses on marine microbiology and algae for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in Finland, Singapore and China. He published more than 250 scientific papers, among which his 2001 review paper entitled 'More on Merde' was an entertaining review on the worth of feces in biomedicine. He addressed this issue frankly by stating, "Whereas food has always received much attention in conversation, commerce, and the literature, the subject of feces has been comparatively neglected. To fill this lacuna, a small book on comparative coprology was recently published (Lewin 1999). The present article aims to supplement this book with a review of overlooked or new items relating to biological and medical aspects of coprology, notably chemical and microbial components of human and animal feces, their uses as fertilizers, and a few other sociological impacts."
Ralph Lewin was an Esperantist
, and was Ordinary professor (Ordaj profesoroj) at Akademio Internacia de la Sciencoj San Marino
, the only university in the world where all courses are studied in esperanto. He translated "Winnie-the-Pooh
" into Esperanto
He was also the author of one of the funniest scientific books in the English Language: 'Merde: excursions in scientific, cultural and socio-historical coprology'. (published Random House 1999, ISBN 0-375-50198-3)
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...
, known as "the father of green algae genetics". He was born in London and later moved to America. He also was known as a poetry author.
Education
He studied at University of CambridgeUniversity of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
from 1939 - 47, graduating with a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1942 and MA in 1946, whilst at Cambridge he focussed on Botany. He then studied at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
from 1947 - 51 graduating with an M.S.
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in 1949 and a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Botany in 1950. In 1971 (or 1972) he was made a Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) of the University of Cambridge.
Biography
Lewis spent nearly 48 years at the Scripps Institution of OceanographyScripps Institution of Oceanography
Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California, is one of the oldest and largest centers for ocean and earth science research, graduate training, and public service in the world...
at the University of California-San Diego and was considered a leading authority in multiple areas of marine biology.
Lewin joined the Scripps institution as an associate professor of marine biology in 1960 and retired from that position as a full professor in 1991, remaining extremely active in laboratory and field research and lecturing nationally and internationally. He helped organize and teach courses on marine microbiology and algae for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in Finland, Singapore and China. He published more than 250 scientific papers, among which his 2001 review paper entitled 'More on Merde' was an entertaining review on the worth of feces in biomedicine. He addressed this issue frankly by stating, "Whereas food has always received much attention in conversation, commerce, and the literature, the subject of feces has been comparatively neglected. To fill this lacuna, a small book on comparative coprology was recently published (Lewin 1999). The present article aims to supplement this book with a review of overlooked or new items relating to biological and medical aspects of coprology, notably chemical and microbial components of human and animal feces, their uses as fertilizers, and a few other sociological impacts."
Ralph Lewin was an Esperantist
Esperanto
is the most widely spoken constructed international auxiliary language. Its name derives from Doktoro Esperanto , the pseudonym under which L. L. Zamenhof published the first book detailing Esperanto, the Unua Libro, in 1887...
, and was Ordinary professor (Ordaj profesoroj) at Akademio Internacia de la Sciencoj San Marino
Akademio Internacia de la Sciencoj San Marino
The Akademio Internacia de la Sciencoj San Marino is a scientific association. It was established in 1983 and had its first convention, SUS 1, around New Year 1984 at San Marino City. After the Sammarinese skeleton law on higher education had been passed the academy was officially founded on...
, the only university in the world where all courses are studied in esperanto. He translated "Winnie-the-Pooh
Winnie-the-Pooh
Winnie-the-Pooh, also called Pooh Bear, is a fictional anthropomorphic bear created by A. A. Milne. The first collection of stories about the character was the book Winnie-the-Pooh , and this was followed by The House at Pooh Corner...
" into Esperanto
He was also the author of one of the funniest scientific books in the English Language: 'Merde: excursions in scientific, cultural and socio-historical coprology'. (published Random House 1999, ISBN 0-375-50198-3)