Timothy F. H. Allen
Encyclopedia
Timothy F. H. Allen is a British botanist and Professor of Botany
and Environmental Studies
at the Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin–Madison
. Allen is a leader in the fields of hierarchy theory, systems theory
, and complexity
.
, Surrey
, U.K, and since the 1970s has been a permanent U.S. resident. He received his B.Sc. in 1964 and his Ph.D. in 1968, both at the University College North Wales of the University of Wales, Bangor, in North Wales
.
Starting in 1964, Allen worked for four years as a demonstrator at the School of Plant Biology of the University College North Wales. This was followed by two years as a lecturer in the Department of Biological Science at the University of Ife in Nigeria
. In 1970 he went to the United States and became an Assistant Professor at the Department of Botany of University of Wisconsin–Madison
, being named Professor in 1981. In 1980 he joined the faculty of the Department of Integrated Liberal Studies, and as Member of the faculty of the Institute for Environmental Studies, Conservation and Land Management Programs. In 1988-89 he was a Visiting Professor at the Department of Anthropology and Cybernetic Systems at the San Jose State University
.
Allen has been 2008/09 President of the International Society for the Systems Sciences
. He is also a member on the scientific advisory board of the Integral Science Institute.
and ecology
, in particular hierarchy theory and problems of scale; epistemology for biological system
s; resource use and biosocial dynamics; narrative in science.
Articles, a selection:
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
and Environmental Studies
Environmental studies
Environmental studies is the academic field which systematically studies human interaction with the environment. It is a broad interdisciplinary field of study that includes the natural environment, built environment, and the sets of relationships between them...
at the Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. Allen is a leader in the fields of hierarchy theory, systems theory
Systems theory
Systems theory is the transdisciplinary study of systems in general, with the goal of elucidating principles that can be applied to all types of systems at all nesting levels in all fields of research...
, and complexity
Complexity
In general usage, complexity tends to be used to characterize something with many parts in intricate arrangement. The study of these complex linkages is the main goal of complex systems theory. In science there are at this time a number of approaches to characterizing complexity, many of which are...
.
Biography
Timothy Allen was born in 1942 in South CroydonCounty Borough of Croydon
Croydon was a local government district in north east Surrey, England from 1849 to 1965.-History:A local board of health was formed for the parish of Croydon St John the Baptist in 1849. On March 9, 1883 the town received a charter of incorporation to become a municipal borough...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, U.K, and since the 1970s has been a permanent U.S. resident. He received his B.Sc. in 1964 and his Ph.D. in 1968, both at the University College North Wales of the University of Wales, Bangor, in North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
.
Starting in 1964, Allen worked for four years as a demonstrator at the School of Plant Biology of the University College North Wales. This was followed by two years as a lecturer in the Department of Biological Science at the University of Ife in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. In 1970 he went to the United States and became an Assistant Professor at the Department of Botany of University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
, being named Professor in 1981. In 1980 he joined the faculty of the Department of Integrated Liberal Studies, and as Member of the faculty of the Institute for Environmental Studies, Conservation and Land Management Programs. In 1988-89 he was a Visiting Professor at the Department of Anthropology and Cybernetic Systems at the San Jose State University
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
.
Allen has been 2008/09 President of the International Society for the Systems Sciences
International Society for the Systems Sciences
The International Society for the Systems Sciences is a world-wide organization for systems sciences.- Overview :The initial purpose of the society was "to encourage the development of theoretical systems which are applicable to more than one of the traditional departments of knowledge."The idea...
. He is also a member on the scientific advisory board of the Integral Science Institute.
Work
Timothy Allen's research interests are in the fields: theory of complex systemsComplex systems
Complex systems present problems in mathematical modelling.The equations from which complex system models are developed generally derive from statistical physics, information theory and non-linear dynamics, and represent organized but unpredictable behaviors of systems of nature that are considered...
and ecology
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
, in particular hierarchy theory and problems of scale; epistemology for biological system
Biological system
In biology, a biological system is a group of organs that work together to perform a certain task. Common systems, such as those present in mammals and other animals, seen in human anatomy, are those such as the circulatory system, the respiratory system, the nervous system, etc.A group of systems...
s; resource use and biosocial dynamics; narrative in science.
Publications
Allen has written about five books and has published over fifty scholarly works in journals on community data analysis, agricultural systems, issues of scale, and sustainability. Books:- 1982. Hierarchy : perspectives for ecological complexity. With Thomas B. Starr. Chicago : University of Chicago Press.
- 1986. A Hierarchical Concept of Ecosystems. With R.V. O'Neill, D. DeAngelis and J. B. Waide. Princeton : Princeton University Press.
- 1992. Toward a unified ecology. With Thomas W. Hoekstra. New York : Columbia University Press.
- 1996. Hierarchy theory : a vision, vocabulary, and epistemology. With Valerie Ahl, illustrated by Paula Lerner. New York : Columbia University Press.
- 2003. Supply-side sustainability. With Joseph A. Tainter and Thomas W. Hoekstra. New York : Columbia University Press.
Articles, a selection:
- 1991. "The role of heterogeneity in scaling of ecological systems under analysis". With T.W. Hoekstra. In: J. Kolasa, and S.T.A. Pickett (Eds.). Ecological heterogeneity. Springer-Verlag. pp. 47–68.
- 1993. "The problem of scaling in ecology". With A. King et al. In: Evolutionary Trends in Plants 7:3-8.
- 1991. "Improving predictability in networks: system specification through networks." With R.V. O'Neill. In: M. Higashi and T.P. Burns (eds). Theoretical studies of ecosystems: the network perspective.Cambridge. pp. 101–114.
External links
- Timothy F. H. Allen. The Allen Lab Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin–Madison.