From plant physiology to ecology
Born in Oklahoma in 1939, Risser graduated from Grinnell College in 1961. He entered graduate study at Wisconsin in 1963 under Grant Cottam, earning his master’s and doctorate in 1965 and 1967 through work on spring ephemerals. He then joined the University of Oklahoma faculty.
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Grasslands in the International Biological Program
Risser oversaw research at the Osage tallgrass-prairie site in Oklahoma, contributing to field studies, ecosystem-model development and synthesis within the International Biological Program. This collaborative work led to The True Prairie Ecosystem, published in 1981.
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Landscapes and a sustainable biosphere
With James Karr and Richard Forman, he produced Landscape Ecology: Directions and Approaches in 1984. He also contributed to the 1991 Sustainable Biosphere Initiative and cofounded the Leopold Leadership Program with Jane Lubchenco and Hal Mooney, linking ecological research, policy and scientific leadership.
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Research organisations and universities
In 1981, Risser became chief of the Illinois Natural History Survey. He later held leadership positions at New Mexico, Miami and Oregon State universities, returning to Oklahoma in 2002 to lead the state higher-education system. He died on 10 July 2014, after a career spanning ecology and research administration.
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