Colborn, Theodora (1927–)
Colborn, Theodora (1927–)
American ecologist and zoologist. Name variations: Theo Colborn. Born Mar 28, 1927; University of Wisconsin, Madison, PhD in zoology, 1985; m. Harry Colborn; children: 4.
Called by many fellow scientists the "Rachel Carson of the 1990s," joined Conservation Foundation (1987); held chair for 3 years with W. Alton Jones Foundation (1990–93); organized groundbreaking conference in Wisconsin, known as Wingspread I, which brought scientists together to discuss effects of chemical pollutants on endocrine systems of wildlife and humans (1991); was lead author, with Dianne Dumanoski and J. Peterson Myers, of Our Stolen Future: Are We Threatening our Fertility, Intelligence, and Survival? (1996), which has been published in more than 12 languages; became controversial figure for asserting that even low-dose exposures to commonly used chemicals can cause problems ranging from infertility and low sperm counts to genital malformations and low IQs; served as senior program scientist, and director of Wildlife and Contaminants Program, for World Wildlife Fund.