Jack Vallentyne

In 2008, the John R. (Jack) Vallentyne Award was instituted, which "recognizes important and sustained efforts to inform and educate the public and policymakers on Great Lakes issues, thereby raising awareness and support for Great Lakes protection and restoration." It is nominated by the IAGLR Outreach Committee and awarded by the IAGLR Board. Vallentyne himself received the first one posthumously.

On June 16, 2007, Vallentyne died, aged 80, in Hamilton (Canada).

In 2001, he received the A.C. Redfield Lifetime Achievement Award "for his exemplary research contributions in paleolimnology, biogeochemistry and eutrophication; outstanding administrative accomplishments in forming and fostering the Experimental Lakes Area; and passionate efforts in educating children in environmental, ecological and limnological issues."

In recognition of his contributions to world science, the Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management Society (AEHMS) established a J. R. Vallentyne Lecture Series in 1997 at its biennial conferences which are delivered by distinguished scientists.

In 1992 Vallentyne received the Rachel Carson Award for raising public awareness of science from the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.

In July 1980, Vallentyne established the Johnny Biosphere project, in light of the earth’s environmental problems, seeking to encourage future generations to take on this important role. The message to the kids Johnny Biosphere (aka Jack Vallentyne) visited was simple: "Be kind to the Earth and it will be kind to you."

Vallentyne held a variety of academic positions throughout his lifetime. Between 1952 and 1955, he was a lecturer and then Assistant Professor (between 1955 and 1958) in Biology at Queen’s University. Other positions he held included: Fellow of the Carnegie Institution of Washington Geophysical Laboratory (from 1956 to 1957), Associated Professor and Full Professor of Zoology at Cornell University (from 1958 to 1966), a Guggenheim Fellow for Biogeochemical studies at the Pallanza Institute (from 1964 to 1965), Vice President of ASLO in (between 1964 and 1965), President of SIL (from 1974 to 198), and a Senior Scientific Advisor of Ocean and Aquatic Sciences, and Science Advisor to the Fisheries Research Board of Canada (between 1975 and 1977), and a senior scientist at the Department of Fisheries & Oceans in the Canadian Center for Inland Waters (CCIW) in Burlington, between 1977 and 1992, where he set up a Fisheries Research Board detachment. During his time at his last position, he held the role of Canadian co-Chairman at the International Joint Commission Great Lakes Science Advisory Board (between 1986 and 1991).

Born John Reuben Vallentyne in Toronto, Vallentyne completed his undergraduate studies in Biology and Chemistry at Queen's University (Kingston; 1945–49) and his Ph.D. in Paleo-Limnology at Yale University (USA; 1949–52) under the supervision of George Evelyn Hutchinson. From 1943 to 1945 Vallentyne served in the military. He and his wife Ann had five children: Peter, Stephen, Jane, Anne Marie and Geoffrey.

Jack Vallentyne (July 31, 1926 - June 16, 2007) was a Canadian biochemist and the 2001 recipient of the A.C. Redfield Lifetime Achievement Award.