A Professorial Life

John C. “Jack “ Briggs was named professor emeritus upon his retirement from the University of South Florida. He is now affiliated with the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Oregon State University. He and his wife Eila, a retired economics professor, spend their summers in Oregon and winters in Indio, California. Jack’s research interest is primarily in evolutionary biology. His studies in early years were devoted to fish life history and systematics. Work on systematics led to an interest in the evolutionary implications of biogeographic patterns. Work on contemporary patterns of distribution and biodiversity led to the study of paleobiology and the historical development of such patterns. To date, he has produced 150 publications, including six books or monographs. In 2005, he received the Alfred Russel Wallace Award from the International Biogeography Society for his lifetime contributions to biogeography. In addition to his scientific works, he has published a science-fiction book written for his grandchildren , Xlibris, Philadelphia, 2007. The present work A Professorial Life is both a professional autobiography and a concurrent account of family life.