Background

Schopf, James William was born on September 27, 1941 in Urbana, Illinois, United States. Son of James Morton and Esther Julie (Nissen) Schopf.

Education

Bachelor of Arts with high honors, Oberlin College, 1963; A.M., Harvard University, 1965; Doctor of Philosophy (Harvard fellow, National Science Foundation fellow), Harvard University, 1968.

Career

Research chemist, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Research chemist, Ames Research Center, California, 1967; member lunar sample preliminary examination team, Manned Spacecraft Center, Texas, 1968-1971; assistant professor department earth and space science, University of California at Los Angeles, 1968-1970; associate professor, University of California at Los Angeles, 1970-1973; professor, University of California at Los Angeles, since 1973; member Institute Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, University of California at Los Angeles, 1970-1976; member Institute Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California at Los Angeles, since 1973; dean honors division College Letters and Science, University of California at Los Angeles, 1983-1985; director Center for Study Evolution and Origin of Life, University of California at Los Angeles, since 1985; Sigma Xi Distinguished lecturer, University of California at Los Angeles, 1976; Rubey lecturer, University of California at Los Angeles, 1976; Golden Year Distinguished lecturer, University of California at Los Angeles, 1980; Faculty Research lecturer, University of California at Los Angeles, 1984; Sigma Xi Distinguished lecturer, U. Cincinnati, 1980; Distinguished lecturer, Buffalo Museum Science, 1982; J.A. Bownocker lecturer, Ohio State University, 1982. Visiting lecturer American Institute Biological Sciences Visiting Biologists Program, 1969-1972. M.W. Haas visiting distinguished professor geology U. Kansas, 1979.

Extraordinary visiting professor exobiology U. Nijmegen, Netherlands, 1980-1981. C. O'Neal lecturer Ohio Wesleyan University, 1982. Sandia distinguished lecturer U. New Mexico, 1985.

Sigma Xi distinguished lecturer U. Oregon, 1985. Du Pont distinguished lecturer University of Illinois, 1985. R. Stanier distinguished lecturer University of California-Berkeley, 1987.

H.P. Mangelsdorf distinguished lecturer U. North Carolina, 1987. Member Botanical Society American delegate, People's Republic China, 1978. Academia Sinica visiting research scientist, People's Republic China, 1981, 82.

Member National Aeronautics and Space Administration Terrestrial Bodies Science Working Group, 1975-1976, space program advisory council National Aeronautics and Space Administration Life Sciences Committee, 1976-1978, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Working Group on Origins of Life, 1978-1979, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Space Science Advisory Committee, 1979-1982, member National Aeronautics and Space Administration Life Sciences Strategic Planning Study Committee, since 1985. Alan T. Waterman Award committee National Science Foundation, 1978-1981. Member working group on precambrian biostratigraphy International Geological Correlation Program, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, since 1975.

Member Working Group on Cambrian-PrecambrianBoundary, since 1976. Member of advisory committee Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics and Eastern Europe, Commission International Relations National Research Council, 1981-1985, member board earth science Commission Physical Sciences, Mathematics and Resources, 1982-1985, member space science board, 1983-1986. Mem.com. on guidelines for paleontological collecting, 1984-1986, subordinate-commission on evolution and diversity Commision on Life Sciences, 1986.

Member committee space research International Council of Scientific Unions.

Achievements

• James William Schopf has been listed as a noteworthy Paleobiologist by Marquis Who's Who.

Works

• book

  • Models in Paleobiology

    (Pp. vi, 250; some text-figures (maps, charts, phylogenies...)

Membership

Board directors Brentwood Glen (California) Association, 1972-1975. Trustee University of California at Los Angeles Foundation, 1983-1985. Board trustees Oberlin College, 1992-1997.

Fellow Geological Society of America (vice-chairman Cordilleran section 1983-1984, chairman 1984-1985). Member National Academy of Sciences, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Botanical Society of America (committee on science liaison with People's Republic China since 1978), Paleontological Society (member Schuchert Award committee 1978-1982), International Society Study of Origin of Life (treasurer 1977-1983, national meeting advisory committee 1980, 83, 86, councilor, since 1983), Geochem. Society (nominating committee 1980-1982), Society Study of Evolution (education committee 1980-1983), American Philosophical Society, Linnean Society London, International Association Plant Taxonomy, International Organization Paleobotany, Psychological Society of America, American Association University Professors, American Institute Biological Sciences, International Psychological Society, American Society Naturalists, Society Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, Paleontological Association, American Society Mibrobiology, Society Molecular Biology and Evolution, Sigma Xi (treasurer University of California at Los Angeles chapter 1972-1974, chapter vice president 1984-1984, president 1984-1985).

Connections

Married Julie Morgan, August 7, 1965 (divorced 1979). 1 child, James Christopher. Married Jane Shen, January 16, 1980.

Father:

James Morton Schopf

Mother:

Esther Julie (Nissen) Schopf

Spouse:

Jane Shen

Spouse:

Julie Morgan

child:

James Christopher Schopf