Born to Russian immigrant parents, Commoner earned a doctorate in biology from Harvard in 1941. As a biologist, he is known for his work with free radicals—chemicals like chlorofluorocarbons, which are suspected culprits in ozone layer depletion. Commoner led a fairly academic life at first, with research posts at various universities, but rose to some prominence in the late 1950s, when he and others protested atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons. He earned a national reputation in the 1960s with books, articles, and speeches on a wide range of environmental concerns, including pollution, alternative energy sources, and population. His latest book, Making Peace with the Planet, was published in 1990. Commoner's other works include Science and Survival (1967), The Closing Circle

Barry Commoner speaking to a group of protesters gathered outside...