Interview with Lynton Keith Caldwell, March 8, 1985

Segment Synopsis: This is an interview with Lynton K. Caldwell of Indiana University. It takes place on March 8th, 1985.

Partial Transcript: ESA was conducting a study on the advisability of establishing an institute of ecology

Segment Synopsis: Caldwell talks about his membership at the Ecological Society of America. He shares the views that the ESA had towards developing TIE. Caldwell later states that he doesn't believe there was significant competition with universities.

Keywords: ESA; Ecological Society of America; TIE; The Institute of Ecology; competition; development; leadership; membership; recognition; research interests

Partial Transcript: Recall TIE's original objectives

Segment Synopsis: Caldwell shares his view on TIE's original objectives. He thought the membership misguided the organization from becoming financially independent. Later, Caldwell discusses TIE's financial problems in greater detail.

Keywords: Chicago O'Hare Airport; National Environmental Policy Act; TIE; The Institute of Ecology; The Nature Conservancy; financial assistance; financial planning; government; objectives; philanthropy; planning committee; politicians; scientists

Partial Transcript: In the absence of the executive director that you mentioned

Segment Synopsis: Caldwell talks about the absence of productivity due to the second-level staff's lack of higher level functioning. He also discusses how the membership's assembly didn't have a real purpose within the Institute.

Keywords: Chicago; Counsel of Environmental Quality; Field Museum; Lee Talbot; McCormick Place; Nixon administration; TIE; The Institute of Ecology; Washington; assembly; budget; development; founders; funding; haunted; higher level functioning; influence; membership; non-ecologists; programs; responsibility; sponsors; staffing

Partial Transcript: Shortly after the Institute was developed, it undertook many studies.

Segment Synopsis: Caldwell explains what workshop studies worked well vs not so much. He discusses the workshop mode that TIE was in and how this affected its development of interdisciplinary programs.

Keywords: Butler University; IDP research; Interdisciplinary research; Man-in-the-living-environment; National Research Council; coastal zone problems; corp. of engineers; lack of funds; lack of orientation; policy research; resistance; tropical ecology; urban ecosystem; workshops

Partial Transcript: In retrospect, was the exercise to develop the Institute misguided

Segment Synopsis: Caldwell reviews the concept of TIE and how it was not misguided in his opinion. He mentions the possible factors that led to TIE's downfall.

Keywords: CEQ; Center on Environmental Quality; Nixon/Ford years; TIE; The Institute of Ecology; bloom of ecology; cleaning up America; management