Dr. Jeremy Jackson is a world-renowned marine ecologist and one of the foremost experts on coral reef ecosystems globally. He holds emeritus positions at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography where he served as the William E. and Mary B. Ritter Professor of Oceanography and Director of the Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation. Prior to his tenure at Scripps, he established himself as a leading researcher in marine sciences during his time as Professor of Ecology at Johns Hopkins University from 1971 to 1985. His early career investigations of Jamaican coral reefs formed the foundation for his groundbreaking research on the historical impacts of human activities on marine environments.
Dr. Jackson pioneered the transformative concept of 'shifting baselines' which revolutionized how scientists assess environmental change in ocean ecosystems. His extensive paleobiological research spanning thirty five years documented the profound long-term impacts of human activities on marine biodiversity and function, particularly regarding coral reef degradation across the Caribbean. His seminal work on overfishing was selected by Discover magazine as the outstanding environmental achievement of 2001, highlighting the critical importance of his findings for global marine conservation. Through more than 170 scientific publications and eleven influential books, including Breakpoint: Reckoning with America's Environmental Crises and Shifting Baselines in Fisheries, he has established a comprehensive framework for understanding historical ecological change in marine environments.
As a member of both the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Jackson has significantly shaped environmental policy and conservation strategies worldwide. His co-founding of the Shifting Baselines Media Campaign has effectively bridged the gap between scientific understanding and public awareness of marine ecosystem degradation. In addition to his groundbreaking work on the formation of the Isthmus of Panama and its evolutionary consequences, his research continues to focus on the historical ecology of the global tropics and potential restoration pathways for degraded coral reefs. Despite his emeritus status, he remains an active voice in marine conservation science through writing, speaking engagements, and scientific collaborations. Through his mentorship of numerous researchers and his influential conceptual frameworks, Dr. Jackson's legacy continues to drive the field of marine ecology and inspire new generations of scientists dedicated to protecting the world's oceans.
