2006 Kansas Solid Waste Management
Hall of
Fame
Originally from southwest Missouri, Jim migrated across the line into Kansas in 1961 where he completed Bachelors and Masters degrees in biology at Kansas State College of Pittsburg. After a stint as an officer in the US Navy, he returned to Kansas where he completed a PhD in Systematics and Ecology at the University of Kansas in 1976. From there, he went to Ohio State University where he served as a faculty member in the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Management. In 1981, he returned to Pittsburg State University where he has served as Chair of the Biology Department since 1984.
His primary teaching activity is in the area of aquatic biology, and he offers courses in ichthyology, herpetology, fisheries management and fish culture. Professional society service has included President of the Ohio Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, President of the North Central Division of the American Fisheries Society and Nominating Committee of the Kansas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society. His research interests have covered a wide area, starting with stream ecology and moving on to reservoir biology, thermal ecology and optimal foraging strategies. More recently his research has focused on crappie, and fish culture.
Over the years, he has developed broad interests in resource management and public policy including solid waste management issues. His interest in conflict management and collaborative processes involving natural resources has led to participation in the Environmental Communication Division of the National Communication Association and the American Association for the Rhetoric of Science and Technology. This has grown from his experiences as Chair of the Neosho Basin Advisory Committee, Chair of the Council of Basin Chairs, Chair of the Crawford County Solid Waste Planning Committee, Chair of the Kansas Special Commission on Surface Water Quality and Chair of the Grand/Neosho River Committee. Other public participation activity has included service on the KDWP Nongame Advisory Committee, KDHE Water Review Panel, KSBA Aquaculture Advisory Council, Neosho Madtom Recovery Team, KDWP Outdoor Recreation Task Force, SEK Solid Waste Authority, Governors Solid Waste Grants Advisory Committee, KDHE Study Review Group, Leaque of Kansas Municipalities Environmental Law Task Force, USGS National Water Quality Assessment Advisory Committee, Kansas Water Authority Public Information Task Force, Cherokee County Mining Task Force, Crawford County Flooding Task Force, KWRI Administrative Council and the Governor’s 21st Century Vision Task Force: Water a Precious Resource. Recently, he was asked to serve on the Kansas Geological Survey Advisory Committee and elected Chairman of the Board of Directors, Southeast Kansas Recycling Incorporated.
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Jim Triplett, Ph.D.
Biology Dept.
Pittsburg State University