Interview with Robert Lewis Burgess, March 20, 1985

Segment Synopsis: This is an interview with Robert L. Burgess of the State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse, New York. It takes place on March 20, 1985.

Partial Transcript: In the late 1960's, the Ecological Society of America was conducting a study

Segment Synopsis: Burgess talks about the support of the ESA's membership on the proposal to develop The Institute of Ecology. He later states that there was a great deal of competition between TIE and the university-based institutions for funding.

Keywords: ESA; Ecological Society of America; TIE; The Institute of Ecology; competition; funding; institutions; membership; proposal; research interests; universities

Partial Transcript: recall TIE's original objectives

Segment Synopsis: Burgess discusses TIE's original objectives, as well as the structure and membership conflicts between its founders and assembly.

Keywords: Chicago; Duke; ESA; Ecological Society of America; Harvard; IBP; International Biological Program; North Dakota State University; TIE; Tennessee; The Institute of Ecology; Washington; analytics; assembly; data banking; education; founders; information; lab; membership; modeling; original objectives; sponsors; support; thrust

Partial Transcript: A valuable network of outstanding ecologists was developed by the Institute

Segment Synopsis: Burgess explains that there wasn't a good use of the so called network developed by the Institute. He talks about the many factors leading to financial troubles within TIE.

Keywords: 1920's; ESA; Ecological Society of America; TIE; The Institute of Ecology; administratively efficient; array; southeastern floodplain vegetation; support; trenches; umbilical cord

Partial Transcript: At the beginning, the Institute was staffed at the second level by non-ecologists

Segment Synopsis: Burgess talks about how the Institute needed to build credibility starting off. He explains how the staff at the second level were good people but incompetent to do credible work. Burgess believes that the urban ecosystems project was the most successful. He says that a downfall however was that projects were based on money instead of purpose.

Keywords: TIE; The Institute of Ecology; coastal zoning problems; credibility; director; man-in-the-living-environment; non-ecologists; second-level; staffing; tropical ecology; urban ecosystems

Partial Transcript: the array of expertise available to the TIE network

Segment Synopsis: Burgess shares his perspective on why TIE was stuck in the workshop mode over developing more interdisciplinary research programs. He later discussed the many factors were directly relative to TIE's demise.

Keywords: American ecology; ESA; Ecological Society of America; IBP; IDP; Interdisciplinary; International Biological Program; TIE; The Institute of Ecology; array of expertise; big problem; committee; coordinate; coordinated body; direct; historical management; law; more stick than carrot; national program; research programs; structure; workshop mode

Partial Transcript: The report of the 5 year review committee

Segment Synopsis: Burgess talks about TIE's faults of not revising its original objectives based on the given circumstances, leading to poor management and demise. He reviews the potential need for an organization like TIE after TIE's demise.

Keywords: Washington; changing times; credibility; decision makers; funding base; goals; lack of funds; management; objectives; politics; review committee