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Maximum power: The ideas and applications of H.T. Odum
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ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING ELSEVIER
Ecological Engineering 7 (1996) 157-158
Book review Maximum Power: The Ideas and Applications of H.T. Odum, Charles A.S. Hall, editor, University Press of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 1995, 416 pp., $49.95 A Tribute to the Founder of Systems Ecology In these days when interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary programs in academics are now commonplace, we often forget about the many leaders who made enormous strides to integrate two or more traditional fields. Far less commonplace are the few genuine pioneers who created truly unique fields, apart from the more traditional disciplines, but nevertheless drawing upon them. H.T. Odum is one of these pioneers. His emerging field is systems ecology based on the maximum power principle. This book, according to the editor, "... is an introduction to and a history and a celebration of his ideas and their applications." It was conceived during his 65th birthday celebration in Chapel Hill in 1989. Howard Thomas Odum was a student of G.E. Hutchinson who many ecologists regard as the most distinguished limnologist of all time. Odum's professional career unfolds through the various contributions of the volume. It now spans more than 40 years, beginning at the University of Florida in 1950, continuing at Duke University, the University of Texas Marine Science Institute at Port Aransas, the Puerto Rico Nuclear Center and the University of Puerto Rico, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and finally, the University of Florida where he returned in 1970 to found the Center for Wetlands in 1973. At each of these institutions he left his indelible mark in the fostering of creative students, in the application of innovative techniques to study ecosystems, and in the progressive unfolding of a view of systems functioning that sets him apart from all others. As Bernard Patten states in a chapter, " N o living person in the world, in my opinion, understands the inner workings of large, complex systems as well as this man does." Most academicians would enjoy great satisfaction if they had conceived the maximum power principle and would spend the remainder of their careers exploring its many applications. Not H.T. Odum. His other breakthroughs include embodied energy, energy transformation hierarchies and self organization of systems. Add to this a novel symbolic language to translate these concepts into highly aggregated and elegant 0925-8574/96/$15.00 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. PH S0925- 8574(96)00009-2
158
Book rel'iew
models, and you have the tools for communicating the complexity of nature and society of which Patten speaks. The book contains a broad spectrum of contributions ranging from reminiscences of students and colleagues to contributions by Odum himself. There are six sections: the subdisciplines of ecology, environmental management and engineering, economics, energy analysis, education and personal memoirs. Some of the chapters synthesize the work of individual authors and discuss their own findings in light of Odum's concepts. Others are short essays on the contributions of Odum to various fields. Still others are original applications of energy analysis to decision making, such as the public policy analysis by Mark Brown and co-authors of four regions of the world under development pressure. This latter work serves as a useful primer to the application of energy analysis to world problems, and the insight that can be gained by breaking away from traditional economic assessments. This smorgasbord of papers offers a variety of perspectives, although the rigor of presentations ranges widely. Who should read this book? I suggest that three groups will benefit the most. First are the curious who were on the periphery of Odum's contributions, but want a glimpse of his concepts and thinking without the need to become immersed in the literature of Odum and former students. It should also appeal to many who were influenced by him. and wish to share the stories that inevitably developed around this charismatic figure. Finally there are those who once were stirred by his ideas, but whose careers have since taken very different directions. This book would be a chance to revisit these ideas as well as explore the advances that Odum has made in his earlier fundamental concepts. The shortcoming of the book is the inclusion of several chapters, originally published as long as 6 years ago in peer reviewed journals. While these papers were reprinted with permission from the publishers, their inclusion detracts somewhat from the other contributions because they lack both spontaneity and context that characterizes the remainder of the book. Notwithstanding that criticism, the book is a worthy tribute to a great scientist, inspiring teacher and bold thinker. Mark M. Brinson Biology Department East Carolina UnicersiO, Greenville, NC 27858 USA
,.
ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING ELSEVIER
Ecological Engineering 7 (1996) 157-158
Book review Maximum Power: The Ideas and Applications of H.T. Odum, Charles A.S. Hall, editor, University Press of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 1995, 416 pp., $49.95 A Tribute to the Founder of Systems Ecology In these days when interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary programs in academics are now commonplace, we often forget about the many leaders who made enormous strides to integrate two or more traditional fields. Far less commonplace are the few genuine pioneers who created truly unique fields, apart from the more traditional disciplines, but nevertheless drawing upon them. H.T. Odum is one of these pioneers. His emerging field is systems ecology based on the maximum power principle. This book, according to the editor, "... is an introduction to and a history and a celebration of his ideas and their applications." It was conceived during his 65th birthday celebration in Chapel Hill in 1989. Howard Thomas Odum was a student of G.E. Hutchinson who many ecologists regard as the most distinguished limnologist of all time. Odum's professional career unfolds through the various contributions of the volume. It now spans more than 40 years, beginning at the University of Florida in 1950, continuing at Duke University, the University of Texas Marine Science Institute at Port Aransas, the Puerto Rico Nuclear Center and the University of Puerto Rico, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and finally, the University of Florida where he returned in 1970 to found the Center for Wetlands in 1973. At each of these institutions he left his indelible mark in the fostering of creative students, in the application of innovative techniques to study ecosystems, and in the progressive unfolding of a view of systems functioning that sets him apart from all others. As Bernard Patten states in a chapter, " N o living person in the world, in my opinion, understands the inner workings of large, complex systems as well as this man does." Most academicians would enjoy great satisfaction if they had conceived the maximum power principle and would spend the remainder of their careers exploring its many applications. Not H.T. Odum. His other breakthroughs include embodied energy, energy transformation hierarchies and self organization of systems. Add to this a novel symbolic language to translate these concepts into highly aggregated and elegant 0925-8574/96/$15.00 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. PH S0925- 8574(96)00009-2
158
Book rel'iew
models, and you have the tools for communicating the complexity of nature and society of which Patten speaks. The book contains a broad spectrum of contributions ranging from reminiscences of students and colleagues to contributions by Odum himself. There are six sections: the subdisciplines of ecology, environmental management and engineering, economics, energy analysis, education and personal memoirs. Some of the chapters synthesize the work of individual authors and discuss their own findings in light of Odum's concepts. Others are short essays on the contributions of Odum to various fields. Still others are original applications of energy analysis to decision making, such as the public policy analysis by Mark Brown and co-authors of four regions of the world under development pressure. This latter work serves as a useful primer to the application of energy analysis to world problems, and the insight that can be gained by breaking away from traditional economic assessments. This smorgasbord of papers offers a variety of perspectives, although the rigor of presentations ranges widely. Who should read this book? I suggest that three groups will benefit the most. First are the curious who were on the periphery of Odum's contributions, but want a glimpse of his concepts and thinking without the need to become immersed in the literature of Odum and former students. It should also appeal to many who were influenced by him. and wish to share the stories that inevitably developed around this charismatic figure. Finally there are those who once were stirred by his ideas, but whose careers have since taken very different directions. This book would be a chance to revisit these ideas as well as explore the advances that Odum has made in his earlier fundamental concepts. The shortcoming of the book is the inclusion of several chapters, originally published as long as 6 years ago in peer reviewed journals. While these papers were reprinted with permission from the publishers, their inclusion detracts somewhat from the other contributions because they lack both spontaneity and context that characterizes the remainder of the book. Notwithstanding that criticism, the book is a worthy tribute to a great scientist, inspiring teacher and bold thinker. Mark M. Brinson Biology Department East Carolina UnicersiO, Greenville, NC 27858 USA