The Father of Fish Nutrition 50 Years of Research

“Leading Scientists of the World 2005” The International Biographical Centre of Cambridge, England has named Dr. John Emil Halver one of the “Leading Scientists of the World” for 2005. Mayor Dave Hutchinson in Lake Forest Park, WA presented the certificate and medal to Dr Halver at the Rotary International meeting on Aug 3, 2005. The certificate commends Dr. Halver’s lifetime of scientific research in Nutritional Biochemistry. Dr. Halver is a pioneering scientist in fish nutrition, physiology, cellular biochemistry, and metabolism. He was born in Woodinville, WA, raised in Everett, Bothell, and Woodinville, earned his Bachelors & Masters degrees at Washington State University and a Ph.D. at the University of Washington. He opened the Western Fish Nutrition Laboratory at Cook, WA in the Columbia River gorge in 1950, and there developed the basis of commercial fish feeds used throughout the US and the world. In the US Army Medical Labs he also worked on nutrition requirements of military personnel, and development of field rations for troops and astronauts. In 1977 Dr. Halver moved to Seattle where he taught nutrition courses at the University of Washington until his retirement. Dr. & Mrs. Halver still maintain their home in the Columbia gorge at Underwood, where they raised their five children. His international work for Food & Agricultural Organization, United Nations Development Program, World Bank, US Aid to Developing Countries, and the International Executive Service Corps has spanned 30 years of effort to assist populations in developing countries to improve their food supply. Dr. Halver is no stranger to honors. He is a member of the US National Academy of Sciences, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the American Fisheries Hall of Fame, received the Makila d’Honour (Basque), and is a Citoyen d’ Honour (France). For his fish nutrition studies he was named “The Father of Fish Nutrition”. Dr. John Halver has been active in Rotary International for over 50 years. He is also a dedicated Christian who believes that science and theology have the same final goal of understanding truth in our universe. "God is the author of truth, and science is the search for truth." When we understand this then there is no conflict between science and faith.