John Edward Morton
Encyclopedia
John Edward Morton was a biologist
, scholar, theologian, and conservationist
from New Zealand
. Trained at the University of Aukland and the University of London
, he became the author
of numerous books, papers and newspaper columns. Morton researched New Zealand’s ecology
and marine life, and was a marine zoologist. He was also the presenter of the imported nature and science television programme, Our World.
. In 1952 he completed his Doctorate of Philosophy (in Science), followed in 1959 by a Doctorate in Science at the University of London
. During this time he was also a lecturer in the zoology department at the same university.
His teaching style and influence have been well-documented in A History of Biology at Auckland University 1883-1983. He believed in “humanising” complex scientific issues, and presenting them in laymen’s language.
Morton was also regarded as one of New Zealand’s leading Christian academics and believed in a unified view of science and religion. He told the New Zealand Herald upon his retirement in 1988 that “I find that my scientific work has confirmed my Christian convictions. To me biology and theology
complement each other.” In his 1984 book Redeeming Creation he acknowledged the influence of the French palaeontologist Teilhard de Chardin in forming the teleological view he expounded in his academic life.
Morton did much for conservation in New Zealand. He was a leader in the establishment in 1975 of New Zealand’s first marine reserve
, Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve
(which is near Cape Rodney and Leigh and includes Goat Island). He led the conservation movement to a series of victories in the 1970s and 80’s which saved the last of New Zealand’s mainland native forests, Pureora
, Whirinaki
, Waitututu and South Westland from logging
.
In 1989 he became a founding member of the New Labour Party, which in 1991 formed a coalition with other parties, and is now known as the Alliance
.
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...
, scholar, theologian, and conservationist
Conservationist
Conservationists are proponents or advocates of conservation. They advocate for the protection of all the species in an ecosystem with a strong focus on the natural environment...
from New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Trained at the University of Aukland and the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, he became the author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
of numerous books, papers and newspaper columns. Morton researched New Zealand’s 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...
and marine life, and was a marine zoologist. He was also the presenter of the imported nature and science television programme, Our World.
Early life
Morton began his zoology degree at the University of AucklandUniversity of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
. In 1952 he completed his Doctorate of Philosophy (in Science), followed in 1959 by a Doctorate in Science at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
. During this time he was also a lecturer in the zoology department at the same university.
Career
On his return from London in the early 1960s, he became the first person to be appointed to the chair of the School of Zoology and Biological Sciences at Auckland University, a position he held from 1959 to 1988. He was considered at this time one of New Zealand’s most talented up-and-coming academics, and was later regarded by many as one of New Zealand’s greatest marine biologists.His teaching style and influence have been well-documented in A History of Biology at Auckland University 1883-1983. He believed in “humanising” complex scientific issues, and presenting them in laymen’s language.
Morton was also regarded as one of New Zealand’s leading Christian academics and believed in a unified view of science and religion. He told the New Zealand Herald upon his retirement in 1988 that “I find that my scientific work has confirmed my Christian convictions. To me biology and theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
complement each other.” In his 1984 book Redeeming Creation he acknowledged the influence of the French palaeontologist Teilhard de Chardin in forming the teleological view he expounded in his academic life.
Morton did much for conservation in New Zealand. He was a leader in the establishment in 1975 of New Zealand’s first marine reserve
Marine reserve
For the United States Marine Corps Reserve see: Marine Forces ReserveA marine reserve is an area of the sea which has legal protection against fishing or development. This is to be distinguished from a marine park, but there is some overlap in usage...
, Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve
Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve
Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve is a protected area in the North Island of New Zealand. Goat Island lies within the reserve and Leigh is the closest town. Auckland University operate a marine laboratory at the reserve...
(which is near Cape Rodney and Leigh and includes Goat Island). He led the conservation movement to a series of victories in the 1970s and 80’s which saved the last of New Zealand’s mainland native forests, Pureora
Pureora Forest Park
Pureora Forest Park is a protected area in the North Island of New Zealand. Within its rich rain forest are an abundance of 1000 year old podocarp trees. It is “recognized as one of the finest rain forests in the world”...
, Whirinaki
Whirinaki Forest Park
Whirinaki Forest Park is a publicly accessible forest park in the North Island of New Zealand. The park is centered around the town of Minginui and part of the eastern boundary flanks the Urewera National Park....
, Waitututu and South Westland from logging
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
.
In 1989 he became a founding member of the New Labour Party, which in 1991 formed a coalition with other parties, and is now known as the Alliance
Alliance
An alliance is an agreement or friendship between two or more parties, made in order to advance common goals and to secure common interests.See also military alliance and business alliance.-International relations:...
.
Awards
- M.Sc, (N.Z.)
- Ph.D, (Lond.)
- Fellow of the RSNZ,(1967)
- Fellow of Linnaean Society of London (F.L.S) (honoris causa)
- Queen's Service OrderQueen's Service OrderThe Queen's Service Order was established by Queen Elizabeth II on 13 March 1975, awarded by the government of New Zealand "for valuable voluntary service to the community or meritorious and faithful services to the Crown or similar services within the public sector, whether in elected or...
(QSO) (1976)
Selected Bibliography
- Seashore ecology of New Zealand and the Pacific. John Edward Morton, Bruce William Hayward. Bateman, 2004. ISBN 1869533992, 9781869533991.
- The shore ecology of Upolu - Western Samoa. Issue 31 of Leigh Lab. bulletin. John Edward Morton, Andrew Jeffs, Leigh Marine Laboratory. University of Auckland, 1993.
- Shore life between Fundy tides. John Edward Morton, J. C. Roff, Mary Beverley-Burton. Canadian Scholars Press, 1991.
- The shore ecology of the tropical Pacific. John Edward Morton. Unesco Regional Office for Science and Technology for South-East Asia, 1990.
- Christ, creation, and the environment. John Edward Morton. Anglican Communications, 1989. ISBN 0473008289, 9780473008284.
- Marine molluscs: Opisthobranchia, Part 2. Richard Carden Willan, John Edward Morton, John Walsby, Leigh Marine Laboratory, University of Auckland, 1984.
- The sea shore ecology of Hong Kong. Brian Morton, John Edward Morton. The University of Hong Kong, 1983. ISBN 9622090273.
- Marine molluscs: Amphineura, archaeogastropoda & pulmonata, Part 1. Issue 4 of Leigh Lab. bulletin. John Walsby, John Edward Morton, Leigh Marine Laboratory, University of Auckland, 1982.
- Molluscs. John Edward Morton. Hutchinson University Library, 1979.
- Seacoast in the seventies: the future of the New Zealand shoreline. John Edward Morton, David A. Thom, Ronald Harry Locker. Hodder and Stoughton, 1973.
- Man, science and God. John Edward Morton. Collins, 1972.
- The New Zealand sea shore. John Edward Morton, Michael C. Miller. Collins, 1968.