Dan Chiras earned his Ph.D. in reproductive physiology in 1976 from the University of Kansas Medical School. After graduating, Dr. Chiras pursued interests in environmental science and has become a leading authority on environmental issues and sustainability. He is currently a Mellon Visiting Professor at Colorado College where he teaches courses on energy and the environment, renewable energy, ecological design, sustainable development, and sustainable systems design. He has published 20 books and nearly 250 articles in journals, magazines, newspapers, and encyclopedias. In the past eight years he has focused much of his attention on environmentally friendly building and has published several books on the subject including The Natural House: A Complete Guide to Healthy, Energy-Efficient, Environmental Homes; The Solar House: Passive Heating and Cooling; The New Ecological Home; and Superbia! 31 Ways to Create Sustainable Neighborhoods. Dr. Chiras also lectures widely on a variety of topics, including ways to build a sustainable society, green building, and renewable energy. In addition to his scientific and environmental pursuits, Dr. Chiras is a river runner, cross-country skier, bicyclist, organic gardener, and musician. He and his two sons live in a state-of-the-art environmental passive solar/solar electric home in Evergreen, Colorado, overlooking the snowcapped Rocky Mountains.
John Reganold received his Ph.D. in soil science from the University of California at Davis in 1980. He has worked as a soil scientist with the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service and as an environmental engineer for Utah International Inc., a worldwide mining company. As a professor of soil science at Washington State University since 1983, he teaches courses in introductory soils, land use, and organic farming and conducts research in land use and sustainable agriculture. He also advises undergraduate and graduate students in soil science and environmental science. His excellence in teaching and research has been recognized by several awards from Washington State University. Dr. Reganold has published more than 80 papers in scientific journals, magazines, and proceedings, such as Science, Nature, Scientific American, and New Scientist. His studies have received national and international attention from newspapers, magazines, radio, and television. He has given more than 100 invited presentations on his research to international, national, and regional groups of scientists, students, growers, and consumers from around the world. In addition to his research, he enjoys spending time outdoors, swimming, cycling, and backpacking.
