Dr. Jose Galizia Tundisi obtained his PhD (Estuaries Ecology, 1969) at the University of São Paulo/University of Southampton and his DSc (Ecology, 1977) at the University of São Paulo. He is President of the International Institute of Ecology in São Carlos, Brazil. He was previously a Full Professor of Biological Sciences, Federal University of São Carlos, 1972-84; Full Professor of Environmental Sciences, University of São Paulo, 1984-94; and President, Brazilian of the National Research Council, 1995-99. His awards include the Gold Medal �Augusto Ruschi�,nbsp;Brazilian Academy of Sciences, 1986; the Moinho Santista Prize in Ecology, 1992; the Highest Brazilian Award for… scientific achievement; the Boutros Ghali Prize for Environment and Development, UN, 1995; and the Commendador, Brazilian Government. He is a Member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, the São Paulo Academy of Sciences, and the Ecology Institute, �Excellence in Biology�, in Germany. Dr. Tundisi is the founder and director of the International Institute of Ecology in Sao Paulo, Brazil.