Georgetown College. Georgetown University.

Dr. Edd Barrows

What do you regard as your greatest academic success?
Possibly my book, info below. It helped me to obtain a large overview of organismal biology, and the book is one thing that I produced that I use on a regular basis. I think it has helped students as well. It could help others if they used it.

Barrows, E. M. 2001. Animal Behavior Desk Reference. A Dictionary of Animal Behavior, Ecology, and Evolution. Second Edition. CRC Press LCC, Boca Raton, FL. 922 pp. http://www.crcpress.com/us/product.asp?sku=2005&dept_id=1&mscssid=

What is your idea of happiness?
Happiness is a complex phenomenon with many facets. A major part of my happiness is to attempt to live on Earth with excellent environmental bioethics in view of a long-term plan for Earth’s health. Most of us are now highly aware of how we Humans are harming Earth in major ways.

Who or what was the greatest influence in your life that led to your career?
My lifetime interest in our natural world has guided my career. My passion for nature has kept me going through “thick and thin.” Of course, teachers were highly instrumental as well.

If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently?
I would have reached out for excellent advice more and developed my mathematical and other skills more.

What do you enjoy about teaching?
I like the energy, new ideas, and humor that students bring to class. Further, it’s always wonderful to see the “wheels turning” in their heads during discussions.

Who are your favorite heroes/heroines in real life (and why)?
I favor people who can do anything constructive really well, but am biased especially toward people who work in areas of my main interests: art, environment, music, horticulture, photography, science, and writing. There are so many people to choose. With regard to biologists, extremely productive, insightful Professor Edward O. Wilson is one of my heroes.

Who is your favorite musician?
I’m a music glutton, liking all kinds of music. With regard to vocal music, I favor the extraordinary harmonies of the Beach Boys; Beatles, Bee Gees, Choir in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony; Carter Family; Everly Brothers, Lettermen; and Linda Rondstat, Dolly Parton, and Emmylou Harris; Linda Rondstat and Aaron Neville; and others.

Who is your favorite thinker?
That question is too hard, because different people are special thinkers about different topics. For example, I’ve found it very rewarding to follow Stephan Jay Gould’s thoughts about biology and baseball.

What historical figure would you most like to meet and why?
Charles Darwin, especially if I could go on the voyage of the H.M.S. Beagle with him. I’ve read lots of his work, and feel that I know him a little. We have many interests in common. There are mysteries about life on Earth and his life that I would like to discuss with him, but would he tell me?

If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?
The rampant counterproductive human behavior, among many other things.

If you could change one thing at Georgetown, what would it be?
I would like GU to become the greenest (= environmentally sound) university in the world. There is no time to waste.

If you could come back to life as a plant/animal/thing, what would it be?
I like being a Human Primate. I would like to be a healthy, energetic person who is always 30 and could travel backward and forward in time to follow my curiosity.

What is your favorite word?
I have too many; check out the dictionary that I wrote. Off the top of my head at this moment for a nontechnical word, “déjà vu” intrigues me because of its original meaning and modern meaning, mystical connotations of the word that bear on human cognition, and just the nice sound of the word.

What, if any, is your phobia?
Getting so old and decrepit that I can no longer do what I need and want to do.

How do you have fun?
I try to derive some fun out of every thing that I do. One of my favorite things is to explore natural areas and take photos like a maniac. This helps me to drift away from silly problems and see the world better.

What is the best piece of advice you could give to your students?
Have a great productive life plan; think outside of the box; do something great for Earth’s environment; dwell bioethically and mutualistically within human diversity and in the rest of biodiversity.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
Well it depends on the subject. Regarding science, it’s “A scientist should be his (her) best constructive critic.”

What is your motto?
Chin up, chest out, belly in; always keep trying!

Print Article