Interview with Phillip Johnson, March 13, 1985

Segment Synopsis: Interviewer introduces Philip Johnson of the John Gray Institute at Lamar University, March 13th, 1985.

Partial Transcript: In the late 1960s, the Ecological Society of America was conducting a study on the advisability of establishing an institute of ecology.

Segment Synopsis: Johnson describes the rise of environmentalism in the 1960s, including things like Earth Day. He later relates this to the Ecological Society of America's efforts to start TIE, as well as how Congress was the main judge for ecological legislation at the time.

Keywords: ESA membership; Ecological Society of America; The Institute of Ecology; University of Georgia; development of TIE

Partial Transcript: Concerns were expressed that the Institute would compete with research efforts at Universities.

Segment Synopsis: During the environmental movement, Johnson discusses the development of TIE's research objectives, and how this posed a potential competition with universities' research interests.

Keywords: Environmental movement; The Institute of Ecology's development; competition; ecologists; public policy; research efforts

Partial Transcript: May be some additional comments that need to be made.

Segment Synopsis: Johnson explains The Insitute of Ecology's original objectives, and how a workshop model was used to reach its original objectives. He goes on to explain how TIE broadened horizons overall, but not really towards the evolution of ecology.

Keywords: The Institute of Ecology; advantages; disadvantages; network; original objectives; workshop

Partial Transcript: The new institute took on many studies..

Segment Synopsis: Johnson provides examples of topics of study and how the Institute handled them.

Keywords: The Institute of Ecology's original objectives; Topics of study; coastal zone problems; ecological impact; living environment; tropical ecology; urban ecosystems; zoning legislation

Partial Transcript: From the beginning the membership of TIE was...

Segment Synopsis: Johnson portrays the membership model as a flawed concept. He includes how the assembly should have been added at a later date when the worth was proven and the message more clear.

Keywords: The Institute of Ecology; The Institute of Ecology's membership; administration; assembly; model; planning

Partial Transcript: ..didn't work

Segment Synopsis: Johnson describes the negative impacts of poor decision-making by administration that led to a lack of accountability and thus, the downfall of TIE as an organization.

Keywords: ESA interest; Felix Rimberg; Johnson; accounting; administration; business experience; complex ecosystems; debts; divergent relations; downturn; ecologists; environmentalists; financial problems; funding; lack of accountability; non-biologists; poor leadership; public policy; structure