JIEP Spotlight (January 2011)
Professor Ivan Goodbody - Honorary Member
Professor Ivan Goodbody, born and educated in Ireland, obtained an honours degree in Zoology from Trinity College, Dublin and later a Ph.D. degree from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. He came to Jamaica in 1955 to join the staff of the University College of the West Indies. He was appointed Professor of Zoology at UWI in 1964 and first Director of The Centre for Marine Sciences in 1986.Currently he is Professor Emeritus in Zoology in the Department of Life Sciences.
He pioneered research on environmental issues affecting Kingston Harbour and other coastal areas and provided technical and scientific expertise to the government agencies responsible for environmental matters. Through his own research on ascidians Prof Goodbody contributed to knowledge of diversity in this group of animals including the discovery and description of six new species of ascidians in Jamaica. This research attracted international attention as well as helping to develop public awareness of the need to protect the natural environment and Jamaica's rich biodiversity.
He has published papers on bird biology in Britain and numerous papers on marine invertebrates especially on the diversity and natural history of ascidians in the Caribbean and was awarded the Order of Distinction, Commander Class in the Jamaica National Honours in 1979 and was the recipient of a Silver Musgrave Medal from the Institute of Jamaica in 1974.
Prof. Goodbody was passionate about the protection of the Jamaican environment and felt that those carrying out studies on the environmental should be eminently qualified to do so. Through discussions with other environment practitioners the idea of a local professional body was born. The Jamaica Institute of Environmental Professionals was launched in March 2000 at its inaugural annual general meeting at which Prof. Goodbody was appointed Honorary Member and gave the keynote address.
Prof. Goodbody and his wife Charlotte have retired back to Scotland where he has been granted a position as Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Aberdeen and where he continues to write and publish. He regularly keeps in touch with his colleagues in Jamaica and with the JEIP.
