Burke received his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Earth Science from University of California, Los Los Angeles He completed graduate work at Harvard in 1951.
Burke held a doctorate in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania. His dissertation was "A political economic survey of Soviet Central Asia" (1959).
Burke was an early environmentalist, advocating for stewardship of the environment in the 1950s. He rose to national fame as early media personality on National Broadcasting Company, with shows like "Probe--with Doctor Burke." Burke received his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts Burke came to in 1952 after graduate work at both University of California, Los Angeles and Harvard. Burke initially taught the basic geography course and courses on Russia, where he had lived for two years.
Burke was Director of Graduate Studies in Conservation and Resource Use at (1951-1957).
The son of Russian immigrants, Samuel Edwards Burkenblit and Helen Hamburg, Burke was born Albert Burkenblit, but he shortened his last name to Burke. Originally from Rostov-Don, Sam was a structural engineer who worked as an architect and engineer for the Allen & Garcia Company in Chicago building industrial sites and bridges.
They had two children, Albert and Marshall. Doctor Burke"s wife, Ruth C. Burke, was a research scientist at Doctor Burke lived in several countries, including Russia, China, Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Latin America.
He also lived in Latin America and had spent time with Native American tribes.
He spoke a wide range of languages, including French, German, Russian, Spanish, Italian, and Bulgarian.
