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John E. Randall, Recipient of the First Bleeker Award in Systematics
By Kent E. Carpenter and Richard Pyle |
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In our time, there is no more appropriate recipient of the Bleeker Award in Systematics than Jack Randall. Bleeker himself was a man of undaunted energy and remarkable intellect. He channeled these qualities into ichthyology primarily in Indonesia, in a region where more fish species exist than any place else on earth, at a time when only a fraction of the species were known to science. The giants of systematic ichthyology built their reputations at a time when a small percentage of total fish species were described. Bleeker ended up describing 1,994 species, more than any other ichthyologist. Jack's accomplishments are no less impressive. Similar to Bleeker in terms of boundless energy and keen intellect, Jack adds an indomitable spirit of underwater adventure. Unlike in Bleeker's time, Jack mostly has to hunt for increasingly more rare new species, spending long hours underwater. This has required fearless and intelligent use of SCUBA, the ability to recognize all known species, and skill in capturing the elusive valuable specimen. In these, Jack has no equal. Above water, he applies the other traits that earn the reputation of a productive scientist: attention to detail and accuracy, sleuth in search of truth, and dedication to publication. In terms of productivity, superlatives are insufficient; the numbers speak for themselves. Jack has described (to date) a total of 607 species, of which 592 are now recognized as valid. This places him as number 15 and number 7, respectively, on the all time list of authors of fish species. However, all those above him on this list had the distinct advantage of working at a time when there were still many species unknown to science. Jack sits at the top of the list in terms of ferreting out remaining undescribed species and in one other notable category: coral reef species. He described 582 coral reef fishes with only Bleeker coming close to this with 537. To be fair, Jack had one other big advantage aside from SCUBA that Bleeker lacked: photography. Jack invented an excellent method of taking photos of newly collected dead specimens. This, together with superb underwater photographic ability has helped him communicate new discoveries and the diversity of coral reef fishes. Jack has authored (to date) 551 scientific articles, 18 books, 68 book sections, and 44 popular scientific articles. We expect these numbers to continue to increase markedly. Jack will be 81 years old on May 22, two days after the Seventh Indo-Pacific Fish Conference ends. His parents led productive lives well into their 90's and we anticipate many more years of enlightenment on fishes from Jack.
Jack's career accomplishments are no less impressive than his scientific productivity. A native of Los Angeles, he completed his Bachelor's degree with honors in Zoology at the University of California-Los Angeles in 1950. He completed his Doctorate in Marine Zoology with honors at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa in 1955. After graduating he spent two additional years in Hawaii'i as a Research Fellow at the Bishop Museum. He then switched oceans and worked at the Marine Laboratory of the University of Miami, then as Professor of Zoology and later as Director of the Institute of Marine Biology at the University of Puerto Rico. In 1965 he returned to Hawai'i as Director of the Oceanic Institute and has remained in Hawai'i ever since. In 1967 he moved to half time positions at the Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology and the Bishop Museum and later moved to full time as Senior Ichthyologist at the Bishop Museum. He has since spent several years in a joint position with the Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology and for nearly seven years flirted with a ‘retirement' that was no less active than his full time position at the Bishop Museum. This is now wisely recognized by the Bishop Museum and they have recently returned him to a half time position. Jack has had many other professional roles in 23 organizations, including Contributing Editor, Editor, President, Member, Graduate Faculty, Affiliate Faculty, Research Associate, Honorary Associate, and Founding Member. He is member and recipient of 28 additional Professional Societies and Awards, including the Stoye Award in Ichthyology, Robert H. Gibbs Jr. Memorial Award, Distinguished Fellow of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herptelogists, and Honorary Member of the Ichthyological Society of Japan. He participated in numerous scientific expeditions, the vast majority of which were in the Indo-Pacific. In addition, Jack is well known for his efforts in marine conservation and has spearheaded establishment of marine parks. Jack has inspired and mentored a new generation of ichthyologists. It is altogether fitting and appropriate that we honor him with the first Bleeker Award in Systematic Ichthyology.
| More to read: |
D.W. Greenfield. 2001. John E. Randall. Copeia 2001(3): 872-877. |
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J.E. Randall 2001. Reminiscing... Atoll Research Bulletin 494:21-50. |
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