A Professorial Life

John C. Jack Briggs was named
professor emeritus upon his retirement
from the University of South Florida. He
is now affi liated 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. Jacks research interest
is primarily in evolutionary biology. His
studies in early years were devoted to
fi sh 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
scientifi c works, he has published a science-fi ction book written for his
grandchildren A Mesozoic Adventure, Xlibris, Philadelphia, 2007. The
present work A Professorial Life is both a professional autobiography
and a concurrent account of family life.