York Lecturer Series

Hall also has several links to the University of Florida, including a visit to the university about eight years ago and a partnership with Wayne H. Smith, the dean of UF's School of Forest Resources and Conservation and director of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences' Center for Biomass Programs. Hall and Smith are co-editors of the journal, "Biomass and Bioenergy."

Hall matriculated through Kearny College in South Africa with distinctions in science in 1952. He got his bachelor's degree in agriculture from the University of Natal in South Africa in 1957, graduating cum laude. Two years later, Hall gained his master's degree in subtropical horticulture from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). In 1963, Hall received his Ph.D. in plant physiology from the University of California at Berkeley.

He was also a fellow at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine from 1963 to 1964 in physiological chemistry. He came to the University of London and King's College in 1964, where for a decade he was lecturer in plant science and then reader in biology. He has been professor of biology at King's College since 1974.

His research has included areas such as biomass for energy, bioproductivity of tropical grasslands, photosynthesis and stress physiology, and immobilized photobiological systems for energy and chemicals production. Hall's intellect and vision can best be gauged by the vast array and breadth of the appointments he has been given and the committees on which he has and continues to serve. He has served on:

• the Royal Society of Interdisciplinary Committee on Environmental Research since 1988;
• chairman of the United Kingdom Working Group, Scope, since 1993;
• project leader for photobiology and photochemistry of the European Commission (EEC) DG XII, Brussels, from 1975 to 1990, and its biomass expert advisor since 1988;
• coordinator of UNEP (Nairobi) international research project and training courses "Bioproductivity and Photosynthesis in a Changing Environment" in 1977;
• Scope Science Advisory Committee, "Climate change and coniferous forests and grasslands" from 1988 to 1992 and "Tree-grass dynamics" since 1993;
• Executive Committee, Biomass Users Network (Washington, D.C. and Sao Paulo) since 1985;
• IPCC Working Group II (Energy Supply Mitigation Options), lead author since 1992;
• Environmental Law Foundation, Executive Committee since 1992;
• ETSU (United Kingdom) Biomass Advisory Group since 1993;
• Biomass Resource Person, African Energy Policy Research Network (AFREPREN) since 1989 and Research Task Leader, ICBP/GCTE, carbon pools and fluxes, since 1991.

In addition, Hall served as

• chairman of the School of Biological Sciences Academic Committee, King's College, from 1982 to 1983;
• Curriculum Development Committee, Leadership Development Program, Rockefeller Foundation (1991-92);
• committee member, chairman, treasurer, United Kingdom Section International Solar Energy Society, since 1977;
• member, Watt Committee on Energy, United Kingdom, from 1976 to 1982;
• director, International Solar Energy Society (1979 to 1982);
• member, Biomass Panel and final Synthesis Panel (1979-1981);
• U.N. Energy Conference, Nairobi, 1981;
• Specialist Advisor, House of Lords European Communities: F Energy Transport and Research from 1979 to 1981;
• chairman and member, International Photosynthesis Committee (1974-1980);
• International Photobiology Association, Secretary General and Vice President (1972-1992);
• Assessor HNC/HND Quantitative Biology (1970-1977);
• Biology Editorial Board, Hodder and Stoughton (English Universities Press) from 1971 to 1983; and
• University Vice-Chancellor's Committee, Science Liaison from 1969 to 1976.

Such a background has only led to top consulting positions with industry, government and other organizations, both in the United Kingdom and abroad. Hall is also a partner in Bio-Services Consultants.

Hall has written more than 400 articles and eight books. He is an editorial board member of three journals, editor of the "Biomass & Bioenergy" journal, and was awarded the 1979 best paper award in the "Solar Energy" journal.

Additionally, Hall has lectured in more than 45 countries and has been featured in newspapers, magazines, radio, TV, and films.

-Biography Originally Compiled March 5, 1996