PROFESSOR JOHN SMYTH
A founding father of environmental education

John Smyth was born on 21 March 1924 and grew up on the southern edge 
of Edinburgh.  At first thought likely to pursue an artistic career 
after his parents, he showed an early interest in natural history.  His 
childhood was spent exploring the countryside around him, studying the 
local flora and fauna.  His interest in natural history was enhanced by 
summer holiday experiences on the West coast of Scotland, where he 
would later return to carry out research into fish farming.  Forty 
years or more later he perhaps repaid a debt to the formative influence 
of Loch Sween by initiating an agreement between the Forestry 
Commission and the Scottish Wildlife Trust to have the Fairy Isles 
designated as a Trust reserve.

He seriously considered medicine, but entered pure science at Edinburgh 
University in 1941 before specialising in zoology.  The war of course 
had its influence on his studies.  Originally intending to go to the 
Far East with a naval commission to combat malaria, priorities were 
changing and he was redirected to further scientific research.

As a young man, John showed he was keen to help others. After 
graduation he volunteered to work for the Scottish Association of Boy's 
Clubs in one of the poorer parts of the city. Unlikely as it may seem, 
he persuaded young men in their teen years to form a drama group to act 
in many Shakespearean plays. From these beginnings John became a 
leading light in the national movement and founded The Scottish Boy's 
Club, a unique organisation giving young people the opportunity to be 
of service not only in clubs but also to the community at large. Such 
was his enthusiasm and drive that the club still functions today after 
more than 50 years. His thorough knowledge of wildlife and his gift for 
teaching allowed him to give young people in the movement a wonderful 
insight into the environment. The scene was set for his further 
involvement in environmental education.

Most of John Smyth’s professional achievements go back to his deep 
interest in nature, and his belief in the benefits of education, 
particularly its ability to bring about change in human thinking and 
actions. He is recognised as one of the founders of environmental 
education nationally and internationally. Throughout his life he has 
advised, supported and encouraged countless national and international 
organisations as well as individuals in their efforts to establish 
environmental education policies and programmes throughout and across 
the world and in his home country of Scotland.

His interests took him onto the international scene. He was one of the 
writers of the first internationally accepted definition of 
environmental education. This was agreed at an environmental education 
conference of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and 
Natural Resources (IUCN) now known as the World Conservation Union, in 
Nevada in 1970. He remained a member of its Commission on Education and 
Communication promoting it through his national and international work 
and advocating its retention in the Union when from time to time, it 
was threatened. He was Chairman of its North West Europe Committee from 
1980 to 1985. The group held regular education meetings in member 
countries where educators could learn from one another and exchange all 
their experiences. A true internationalist, he managed to arrange the 
first joint conference between the East Europe and North West Europe 
committees in Finland in 1984. The series of joint meetings continued 
elsewhere in Europe every two years and helped pave the way for 
cooperative environmental education projects in Eastern Europe funded 
by the EU and UK once the Iron Curtain fell. In 1990 he was awarded the 
IUCN Tree of Learning Award, as a tribute to his never-ending 
enthusiasm and professionalism in promoting the values of 
(environmental) education.

John was a member of the UK delegations that went to the first UNESCO 
Inter-governmental conference on environmental education held in 
Tbilisi, Georgia in 1978. This was the conference that identified the 
aims, objectives and pedagogy of environmental education and called 
upon the governments of the world to develop environmental education 
programmes. He continued to work with UNESCO and later UNEP advising 
and working on environmental education projects, including the 
Tbilisi+10 conference in Moscow.

Following the Brundtland Report “Our Common Future” in 1987, there were 
calls for a new area of education – education for sustainable 
development. John was committed to the evolution of the theory and 
practice of environmental education, and became a staunch advocate. 
Through his work on national committees he guided the UK’s NGO 
education input to the two World Summits on Sustainable Development in 
1992 (UNCED) and 2002 (WSSD) and was a regular visitor to planning 
meetings for the UN Commission on Sustainable Development in New York. 
In fact he was largely responsible for the education chapter in the 
Agenda 21 document that came out of UNCED.

Though his international work took him around the world, he did not 
neglect the grassroots: his quiet timely inputs helped many national 
NGOs become established and successful. Within Scotland he pressed hard 
for the establishment of the Scottish Environmental Education Council, 
an organisation representing a growing environmental education movement 
in the country. It was fitting that he became its first Chairman in 
1983 and President in 1991. In 1992 he chaired the Secretary of State 
for Scotland’s Working Group on environmental education and then was 
responsible for Scotland being the first country in the world to 
prepare a sustainable development education strategy. It was John who 
established good contact with the Atlantic Center for the Environment 
in New England (USA) with which he organised many student exchanges to 
and from Scotland. One of his final contributions in Scotland was his 
input into the ‘Linking Thinking’ project, launched by WWF in Scotland 
a few weeks before his death.

Much of John’s environmental education work was done voluntarily 
because of his belief in its importance. He was also fully committed to 
his ’day job’. Having been educated at George Watson’s College and 
Edinburgh University, he became an assistant lecturer at the University 
before becoming lecturer and later Head of Biology at Paisley College, 
now Paisley University. He was a member of the Institute of Biology and 
received its Charter Award for 1989. He was secretary and chairman of 
the Scottish Branch. From 1990-1992 he was a Commissioner, Countryside 
Commission for Scotland. Since 1988 he has been Emeritus Professor of 
Biology at Paisley University and was Honorary Professor (Division of 
Academic Innovation and Continuing Education), Stirling University.

But John will be primarily remembered for himself: a very modest 
personality, ready with an appropriate input at the appropriate time: 
like the many times he was asked to conclude conferences and workshops 
because of his great skill at drawing out important conclusions. 
Besides that, many will remember him for his vision and for the changes 
he helped bring about. He was a team man, and was always generous with 
his time. He recognised that before change could happen a lot of talk 
was necessary. He never rushed people or forced them into positions. He 
moved things along from the middle, patiently listening and quietly 
encouraging some to catch up and others to slow down, the latter not 
least to younger colleagues like us, impatient to change the world 
quickly. At the end of the day progress was often celebrated with a 
glass of ‘Scottish tea’. Through patient persuasion he ensured words 
were turned into actions. As a result of his activities he became a 
friend to so many people that his international contacts are legion. He 
maintained contact with most of them and at Christmas he would send a 
Christmas card with one of his own beautifully drawn sketches of some 
natural or cultural feature drawn on one of his many overseas visits.

His contributions over the years have been recognised with the award of 
the OBE. Many people owe a lot to John, and for all of them we say 
thank you for being such a fine colleague and friend.  A thanksgiving 
service for John Smyth will be held on 15 April at Greenbank Parish 
Church, Braidburn Terrace, Edinburgh at 2.30pm.
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Professor John Crocket Smyth OBE, zoologist and educator. He is 
survived by his wife Betty whom he married in 1957, his son Kenneth, 
daughter Margaret and 5 grandchildren.

Born Edinburgh 21/3/1924, died Pittenween 14/2/2005
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Prepared by John Baines and Chris Maas Geesteranus with contributions 
from Bill Reid
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Professor William Scott
Head:           Curriculum and Pedagogy research group    
http://www.bath.ac.uk/education/cp/
Director:       Centre for Research in Education and the Environment     
http://www.bath.ac.uk/cree/
Editor:         Environmental Education Research    
http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/titles/13504622.asp
                        Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education   
http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/titles/02602938.asp
Address:        Department of Education, University of Bath, Bath, BA27AY, 
UK
Contact:        Phone: +44 (0) 1225 386648        Fax: +44 (0) 1225 386113
                http://www.bath.ac.uk/education/profiles/wahscott
                   
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