Henry J. Oosting
Encyclopedia
Henry J. Oosting was an American ecologist and professor. He was born in Holland, Michigan
. Oosting attended Michigan State University
, where he received the M.S. degree in 1927, then studied with W.S. Cooper
at the University of Minnesota
, receiving his Ph.D. in Botany in 1931, among other notable Cooper students including Murray Fife Buell
, Rexford Daubenmire, and Frank Edwin Egler
. In 1932, Oosting began his career at Duke University
as ecologist in the Department of Botany.
Oosting continued teaching and research at Duke until his retirement, after which research was his focus until his death in 1968. Among his notable students are W.D. Billings
and F. Herbert Bormann. His influence on his field and the respect in which he was held by colleagues are apparent in several memorials. Duke University
established "Henry J. Oosting Fellows," an honor given to Ph.D. candidates, as well as an "Oosting Memorial Lecture." Dr. Chris Field, Director of the Carnegie Department of Global Ecology and Professor of Biology and Earth System Science, delivered the 40th Henry J. Oosting Memorial Lecture in April 2011.
The Henry J. Oosting Natural Area was established in Orange County, North Carolina, in his honor, and is considered to have regional significance.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. Oosting attended Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
, where he received the M.S. degree in 1927, then studied with W.S. Cooper
William Skinner Cooper
William Skinner Cooper was an American ecologist.Cooper received his B.S. in 1906 from Alma College in Michigan. In 1909, he entered graduate school at the University of Chicago, where he studied with Henry Chandler Cowles, and completed his Ph.D. in 1911...
at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
, receiving his Ph.D. in Botany in 1931, among other notable Cooper students including Murray Fife Buell
Murray Fife Buell
Murray Fife Buell was an American ecologist and palynologist.-Personal life:Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Buell earned a B.S. at Cornell University in 1930. He then attended the University of Minnesota where he earned a M.A. in 1934 and a Ph.D. in 1935. After completing his Ph.D., Buell's...
, Rexford Daubenmire, and Frank Edwin Egler
Frank Edwin Egler
Frank Edwin Egler was an American plant ecologist and pioneer in the study of vegetation science. He is of historical significance through his assistance to Rachel Carson in preparing Silent Spring....
. In 1932, Oosting began his career at Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
as ecologist in the Department of Botany.
Oosting continued teaching and research at Duke until his retirement, after which research was his focus until his death in 1968. Among his notable students are W.D. Billings
Dwight Billings
William Dwight Billings was an American ecologist. Billings was one of the foundational figures in the field of physiological ecology and made major contributions to desert and arctic ecology.Billings served as President of the Ecological Society of America from 1978 to 1979...
and F. Herbert Bormann. His influence on his field and the respect in which he was held by colleagues are apparent in several memorials. Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
established "Henry J. Oosting Fellows," an honor given to Ph.D. candidates, as well as an "Oosting Memorial Lecture." Dr. Chris Field, Director of the Carnegie Department of Global Ecology and Professor of Biology and Earth System Science, delivered the 40th Henry J. Oosting Memorial Lecture in April 2011.
The Henry J. Oosting Natural Area was established in Orange County, North Carolina, in his honor, and is considered to have regional significance.
Career chronology
- 1927-1932 Botany instructor, Michigan State UniversityMichigan State UniversityMichigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
- 1932-1968 Botany professor, Duke UniversityDuke UniversityDuke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
- 1955 President of Ecological Society of AmericaEcological Society of AmericaThe Ecological Society of America is a professional organization of ecological scientists. Based in the United States, ESA publishes a suite of publications, from peer-reviewed journals to newsletters, fact sheets and teaching resources. It holds an annual meeting at different locations in the...
- 1967 Received Meritorious Teaching Award, Association of Southeastern Biologists
External links
- Resolution of Respect for Henry J. Oosting, by W. Dwight Billings, at Ecological Society of AmericaEcological Society of AmericaThe Ecological Society of America is a professional organization of ecological scientists. Based in the United States, ESA publishes a suite of publications, from peer-reviewed journals to newsletters, fact sheets and teaching resources. It holds an annual meeting at different locations in the...
, retrieved 11/2/2011. - Henry J. Oosting papers at Duke University
- Sprugel, Douglas G. "A 'Pedagogical Genealogy' of American Plant Ecologists." Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America 61 (1980):197-200. Accessed 11/2/2011.