Dr. John Scales Avery, born in 1933 in Lebanon, has made significant contributions in both scientific research and peace advocacy. Raised in an academic environment, where his father held a professorship in anatomy at the American University of Beirut, Avery’s intellectual foundation was shaped early. He pursued advanced studies in theoretical physics and chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Chicago, and the University of London, establishing a career that bridged rigorous scientific exploration and broader social concerns. Over the years, Dr. Avery has authored numerous books and articles on scientific topics as well as on pressing global issues, reflecting his interdisciplinary expertise.

In 1969, Dr. Avery founded the Journal of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes, serving as its Managing Editor until 1980 and solidifying his impact on bioenergetics research. His advisory role at the World Health Organization from 1988 to 1997 further broadened his experience in global health, as he contributed technical expertise in areas intersecting health science and policy. Dr. Avery has also held leadership roles in peace-oriented organizations, serving as the Chairman of the Danish National Group of Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs since 1990. His work with Pugwash Conferences, an organization that was jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1995 along with its president, Sir Joseph Rotblat, reflects his long-standing commitment to scientific responsibility and global disarmament efforts. Additionally, from 2004 to 2014, he chaired the Danish Peace Academy, fostering educational initiatives focused on peace studies and conflict resolution.

In his scientific research, Dr. Avery has contributed extensively to quantum chemistry, thermodynamics, evolutionary theory, and the history of science. His 2003 publication, Information Theory and Evolution, is noted for framing life’s origin, evolution, and human cultural development through the lenses of thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, and information theory. He is a recognized Foreign Member of the Royal Danish Society of Sciences and Letters, a Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science, and recipient of the Heyrovsky Medal from the Czech Academy of Sciences. His affiliations include the New York Academy of Sciences and the Royal Institution of Great Britain. Additionally, he serves on the Editorial Board of the Nuclear Abolition Forum and the Advisory Board of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, engaging actively in discussions on nuclear disarmament and policy.

Dr. Avery is associated with the Transcend Network for Peace and Development and is an Associate of the Transnational Foundation for Peace and Future Research. His contributions span over 30 books and 200 articles, covering topics from environmental sustainability to societal challenges such as nuclear weapons, economic inequality, and climate change.

A selection of Dr. Avery’s downloadable works includes:

Lives in Ecology
Lives in Medicine
Lives in Chemistry
Fascism, Then And Now
Lives In Physics
Lives In Economics
Lives In The Peace Movement
Money, Media And Climate Change
We Need An Ecological Revolution
Saving The Future
A World Federation
Searching For Truth
Population And The Environment
The Information Explosion
The Devil's Dynamo
Where Do We Come From?
Ethics And Evolution
Climate Change, Population Growth, And Famine
Nuclear Weapons: An Absolute Evil
The Climate Emergency: Two Time Scales
Languages And Classification
Space-Age Science And Stone-Age Politics
Crisis 21: Civilization's Crisis In The 21st Century
We Need Their Voices Today
The Need For A New Economic System
Memories Of Beirut And Tehran
Collected Essays, Part One
Collected Essays, Part Two
Collected Essays, Part Three
Collected Essays, Part Four
Collected Essays, Part Five
60 Years In The Peace Movement
The ecological impact of militarism
Our world is burning
A history of the Earth
Ethics for the future

Additional works and articles by Dr. Avery can be accessed on his official webpage. Through these contributions, Dr. Avery continues to address critical issues affecting global stability and environmental health.