Brian Berry
Encyclopedia
Brian Joe Lobley Berry is a British-American human geographer. He is Lloyd Viel Berkner Regental Professor
at the University of Texas at Dallas
. His urban
and region
al research in the 1960s sparked geography’s social-scientific revolution and made him the most-cited geographer for more than 25 years.
, Staffordshire
, United Kingdom
. He was educated at Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough
and Acton County Grammar School, Middlesex. He graduated from University College, London, with a B.Sc. (Economics
) degree in 1955. He went on to the University of Washington
where he completed an M.A.
in 1956, and a Ph.D.
in 1958, studying under noted geographer and leader of the "quantitative revolution
" William Garrison
.
Upon completing his Ph.D., Berry was appointed as chaired professor at the University of Chicago
, a position he held until 1976. During this time his urban and regional research sparked geography’s social-scientific revolution and made him the most-cited geographer for more than 25 years. His studies subsequently focused on long-wave dynamics and their relationships to macrohistorical phasing of economic development
and political behavior.
From 1976 to 1981 Berry was chaired professor at Harvard, and following that was appointed dean of the Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University
for a period of 5 years. In 1986 he joined the University of Texas at Dallas
, and has remained there since.
Berry was elected a member the National Academy of Sciences
in 1975 and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
in 1976. He is also a Fellow of the British Academy
and University College, London. In 1988 he was awarded the Victoria Medal
from the Royal Geographical Society
. In 1999 he was appointed as a member of the Council of the National Academy of Sciences, and in 2004 was a founding member of the Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas (TAMEST).
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at the University of Texas at Dallas
University of Texas at Dallas
The University of Texas at Dallas, also referred to as UT Dallas or UTD, is a public research university in the University of Texas System. The main campus is in the heart of the Richardson, Texas, Telecom Corridor, north of downtown Dallas...
. His urban
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
and region
Region
Region is most commonly found as a term used in terrestrial and astrophysics sciences also an area, notably among the different sub-disciplines of geography, studied by regional geographers. Regions consist of subregions that contain clusters of like areas that are distinctive by their uniformity...
al research in the 1960s sparked geography’s social-scientific revolution and made him the most-cited geographer for more than 25 years.
Biography
Berry was born in SedgleySedgley
Sedgley is an urban village within the West Midlands county of England. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Sedgley was formerly an ancient manor composed of several smaller villages, including Gornal, Gospel End, Woodsetton, Ettingshall, Coseley and Brierley...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He was educated at Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough
Queen Elizabeth's High School
Queen Elizabeth's High School is an 11-18 co-educational selective state grammar school, based in Gainsborough in western Lincolnshire, England.The school is selective; pupils wishing to enter at age 11 must sit and pass the Eleven Plus exam prior to entry...
and Acton County Grammar School, Middlesex. He graduated from University College, London, with a B.Sc. (Economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
) degree in 1955. He went on to the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
where he completed an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in 1956, and a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in 1958, studying under noted geographer and leader of the "quantitative revolution
Quantitative revolution
In the history of geography, the quantitative revolution [n] was one of the four major turning-points of modern geography -- the other three being environmental determinism, regional geography and critical geography)...
" William Garrison
William Garrison (geographer)
William Louis Garrison is an American geographer and transportation analyst, currently a professor emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley. While at the University of Washington in the 1950s, Garrison led the "quantitative revolution" in geography, which applied computers and statistics...
.
Upon completing his Ph.D., Berry was appointed as chaired professor at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, a position he held until 1976. During this time his urban and regional research sparked geography’s social-scientific revolution and made him the most-cited geographer for more than 25 years. His studies subsequently focused on long-wave dynamics and their relationships to macrohistorical phasing of economic development
Economic development
Economic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area...
and political behavior.
From 1976 to 1981 Berry was chaired professor at Harvard, and following that was appointed dean of the Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
for a period of 5 years. In 1986 he joined the University of Texas at Dallas
University of Texas at Dallas
The University of Texas at Dallas, also referred to as UT Dallas or UTD, is a public research university in the University of Texas System. The main campus is in the heart of the Richardson, Texas, Telecom Corridor, north of downtown Dallas...
, and has remained there since.
Berry was elected a member the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
in 1975 and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
in 1976. He is also a Fellow of the British Academy
British Academy
The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national body for the humanities and the social sciences. Its purpose is to inspire, recognise and support excellence in the humanities and social sciences, throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value.It receives an annual...
and University College, London. In 1988 he was awarded the Victoria Medal
Victoria Medal (geography)
The Victoria Medal is an award presented by the Royal Geographical Society. It is awarded "for conspicuous merit in research in geography" and has been given since 1902.-Past recipients:...
from the Royal Geographical Society
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
. In 1999 he was appointed as a member of the Council of the National Academy of Sciences, and in 2004 was a founding member of the Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas (TAMEST).
Publications
Berry has authored over 500 books and articles, and attempts to bridge theory and practice via involvement in urban and regional development activities in both advanced and developing countries.External links
- Brian J Berry at University of Texas in Dallas website: School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences.