EDUCATION:
Northwestern University Night School
1929-1931
American Institute of Banking Night School
1932-1933
Special Summer Session for Business Executives Graduate School of Business Administration Harvard University (certificate awarded with distinction)
1937
BUSINESS CAREER:
First National Bank of Chicago, Trust Department, Auditing, and Assistant Cashier Commercial Loans
1930-1948
U.S. Navy – Lieutenant J. G.
1943-1945
President, John Ott Pictures, Inc.
1948-1977
President, John Ott Laboratories, Inc.
1960-1977
President, Time Lapse Research Foundation, Inc. (corporate name changed to Environmental Health and Light Research Institute)
1962-1966
Chairman and Executive Director, Environmental Health and Light Research Institute
1966-1977
Chairman, Ott Laboratories, Inc.
1977-
SOCIETIES:
American Association for Laboratory Animal Science
Illuminating Engineering Society
The New York Academy of Sciences
Men’s Garden Clubs of America, Inc.
Society of Photographic Scientists and Engineers
International Association for Dental Research
Chicago Horticultural Society
American Association for the Advancement of Science
AWARDS, MEDALS and CITATIONS
The North Shore Horticultural Society – Honorary Member – In recognition of the services he has rendered to the Society and the promotion of horticulture.
1948
Chicago Federated Advertising Club – Outstanding achievement in advertising.
1951-1952
The Sixteenth American Exhibition of Educational Radio-Television Programs – First Award
1952
The Chicago Technical Societies Council – Award of Merit
1956
The University of Wisconsin – Industrial Photography Applications
1956
Honorary Citizen of Nashville
1956
The University of Wisconsin – Engineering Photography
1957
Loyola University – Honorary Degree, Doctor of Science, conferred
1957
The Photographers’ Association of America – Certificate of Merit
1957
The Horticultural Society of Chicago – Silver Medal
1958
Chicago Lapidary Club
1958
The American Horticultural Council – Citation – for contributions in developing time-lapse photography techniques; for utilizing this special skill in popularizing gardening through radio, television, movies and lectures; for broadening the knowledge of gardeners and plant scientists in aspects of plant life not easily observed; and for pointing the way to the utilization of these techniques in other areas of biological science.
1959
American Society of Anthropometric Medicine and Nutrition – Honorary Life Member
1960
The Garden Club of America – Eloise Payne Luguer Medal, for special achievement in the field of botany, which may include medical research, the fine arts, or education … The Garden Club is happy to choose a man who has excelled not only in one, but in each of these categories.
1963
The Motion Picture Division of the Photographic Society of America – Certificate of Commendation
1963
Men’s Garden Clubs of America – Certificate of Merit, for the development of time-lapse photography of plants with the therapy effects of light on plant and animal life
1964
Service Activities of Volunteer Engineers – Furthering the relationship between the Engineering and Medical Professions
1964
Industrial Photographers Association of America – Raising the standards and ideals of our profession
1964
National Eye Research Foundation – Grand Honours Award – Significant contribution to the field of eye care
1966
Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers
1966
Ohio Academy of Dental Practice Administration
1966
Southern California Dental Association – Outstanding scientific presentation
1967
Golf Course Superintendents Association of America – Speaker’s Club
1967
The Washington Unit of the Academy of General Dentistry – Valuable contribution
1967 and 1969
Division West Chinchilla Corporation – Recognition of Service
1969
The Garden Club of New Jersey – Silver Medal
1969
The Men’s Garden Club of America – Gold Medal
1969
Missouri Ophthalmological Society
1970
The Garden Club of New Jersey – Gold Medal
1971
Appointment as Visiting Lecturer and Research Associate in the College of Natural Science and Department of Biology, University of South Florida
1973
American Society for Preventative Dentistry
1974
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
1974
Illuminating Engineering Society, Southeast Florida Section
1974
Photographic Society of America – Highest Award – Progress Medal
1975
Appointment as Adjunct Professor, Department of Marine Sciences, University of South Florida
1975
International Film and T.V. Festival of New York – Silver Medal
1975
The Chicago International Film Festival – Gold Plaque
1975
Seattle King County Dental Society
1975
First International Conference on Human Functioning
1975
The Society for Clinical Ecology – The Jonathan Forman Gold Medal
1978
Light and Health Research Council, London Appointed a Trustee
1979
Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers, London – Designated a Freeman
1979
Cancer Control Society – Humanitarian Award
1979
PUBLICATIONS:
Time-Lapse Photography, The Chicago Naturalist, Vol. 10, pp. 21-23
1947
Study of the Death of Irradiated and Nonirradiated Cells by Cinemicrography, Robert Schreck, M.D. and John N. Ott, Archives of Pathology, AMA, Vol. 53, pp. 363-378
1952
Sex Life of a Pumpkin, Atlantic, Vol. 121, No. 2
1952
Observations of Effects of Light and Temperature on Growth of Flowering Plants and Fungi, Bulletin of the Garden Club of America, Vol. 45, No. 4
July 1957
Time Lapse Studies on the embryology of the Zebra Fish – Brachydanio rerio, The Anatomical Record, 128: 565, Hisaoka, K.K., Ott, J.N., & Marchese, A.L.
1957
My Ivory Cellar, Twentieth Century Press
1958
Memorandum on Growth Responses of Plants and Animals to Variations in Wavelengths of Light Energy, Tropicals, Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 22
Jan-Feb 1964
The Question of Light, National Chinchilla Breeder, Vol. 20, No. 6, pp. 17-18
June 1964
Some Observations on the Effect of Light on Pigment Epithelial Cells of the Retina of a Rabbit’s Eye, Recent Progress in Photobiology, Blackwell Publications, The Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress of Photobiology, Oxford, pp. 395-396
July 1964
Some Responses of Plants and Animals to Variations in Wavelengths of Light Energy, Annals New York Academy of Sciences, Vol. 117, Art. 1, pp. 624-635
Sept 10, 1964
Effects of Unnatural Light, New Scientist, London, Vol. 25, No. 429, pp. 294-296
Feb 4, 1965
Effects of Wavelengths of Light on Physiological Functions in Plants and Animals, Illuminating Engineering, Vol. LX, No. 4, Sec. 1, pp. 254-261
April 1965
A Revaluation of Ultraviolet as a Vital Part of the Total Spectrum, Contacts, pp. 3-16
April 1966
The Influence of Light, Contacto, The International Contact Lens Journal, Vol. 11, No. p, pp. 29-36
March 1967
The Effects of Light and Its Control, World Hospitals, Vol. 3, No. 4, Permagon Press, pp. 277-284
1967
E’Proprio Innocua la Televisione?, L’Ingegnere, pp. 1023-1027
Nov 1967
The Influence of Light on the Retinal Hypothalamic Endocrine System, Annals of Dentistry, Vol. XXVII, No. 1, pp. 10-16
March 1968
Responses of Psychological and Physiological Functions to Environmental Light, Journal of Learning Disabilities (Part I), Vol. 1, No. 5
May 1968
Responses of Psychological and Physiological Functions to Environmental Radiation Stress, Journal of Learning Disabilities (Part II), Vol. 1, No. 6
June 1968
A Rational Analysis of Ultraviolet as a Vital Part of the Light Spectrum Influencing Photobiological Responses, Optometric Weekly, Vol. 50, No. 36, pp. 21-30
Sept 5, 1968
Engineered Light for Living, The Brooklyn Engineer, Vol. LXXII, No. 3
Dec 1968
A Rational Analysis of Ultraviolet as a Vital Part of the Light Influencing Photobiological Responses, Journal of the Maryland Optometric Association, Vol. 1, No. 4, p. 22
Oct-Nov-Dec 1968
Interdisciplinary Communication Needs Increase, Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers Journal, Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 46-49
Jan 1969
The Effect of Artificial Light on Health, Let’s Live, Vol. 37, No. 10
Oct 1969
Health & Light, The Effects of Natural and Artificial Light on Man and Other Living Things, The Devin Adair Co.
1973
Environmental Variables in Animal Experimentation, Selections from a Symposium Sponsored by the Delaware Valley and Metropolitan Branches of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, Edited by Hulda Magalhaes, Buckness University Press, Contributed Chapter, pp. 39-57
1974
The Eyes’ Dual Function, Eye, Ear, Nose, & Throat
Part 1 – Vol. 53, No. 7, pp. 276-281
Part II – Vol. 53, no. 8, pp. 309-316
Part II (cont.) – Vol. 53, No. 9, pp. 377-381
Part III – Vol. 53, No. 11, pp. 465-469
July 1974
Aug 1974
Sept 1974
Nov 1974
Light, Radiation, and Academic Behavior, Lewis W. Mayron, John Ott, Rick Nations, Ellen L. Mayron, Academic Therapy, Vol. X, No. 1, pp. 33-47
Fall 1974
Light, Radiation and Dental Caries, Lewis W. Mayron, John N. Ott, Edward J. Amontree, Rick Nations, Academic Therapy, Vol. X, No. 4, pp. 441-448
Summer 1975
Caries Reduction in School Children, Lewis W. Mayron, John N. Ott, Edward J. Amontree, Rick Nations, Applied Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Vol. 4, No. 4, pp. 56-58
July-Aug 1975
Light Photosynthesis, the Occulo-endocrine System and Dental Caries, Journal of the American Society for Preventative Dentistry, Vol. 5, No. 4, pp. 10-15
July-Aug 1975
“Let There Be Light,” Cancer Control Journal, Vol. 3, No. 6, and Vol. 4, No. 1 Special Double Issue on Light
1975
Reply to Crouch “We Cannot Believe” by C.L. Crouch, Human Factors Society Bulletin, Vol. 18, No. 4
April 1975
Light, Radiation, and Academic Achievement: Second-Year Data, Lewis W. Mayron, Ellen L. Mayron, John N. Ott, Rick Nations, Academic Therapy, Vol. XI, No. 4, pp. 397-407
Summer 1976
Health & Light, The Effects of Natural & Artificial Light on Man and Other Living Things, Paperback Edition with added Chapter, Pocket Books
1976
Influence of Fluorescent Lights on Hyperactivity and Learning Disabilities, Journal of Learning Disabilities, Vol. 9, No. 7, pp. 417-422
Aug-Sept 1976
Light, An Overlooked Factor in Healing, “Let’s Live,” Vol. 45, No. 8, pp. 30-36
Aug 1977
The Eyes’ Dual Function, Part I & II, A Physician’s Handbook on Orthomolecular Medicine (reprint from Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Monthly, Vol. 53, Nos. 7 and 8, 1974), Permagon Press, pp. 173-180
1977
The Influence of Light and Radiation on Plants, Animals and People, The Construction Specifier, Vol. 30, No. 10, pp. 30-38
November 1977
Bad Lighting and Our Health – Is Anyone Accountable?, “The Health Quarterly,” Ninth Issue, Vol. 3, No. 1, Keats Publishing, Inc, pp. 16-17 & 66
1978
Light, The Missing Link? Cause and Effect, Cage Differences, and Exceptions, NAPM Journal, Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 14-19
1978
Paradoxical Orthodoxy in Cancer Research, PURSUIT, Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 13-17
Winter 1978
The Effects of Light and Radiation on Human Health and Behavior, Biochemical Approaches to Treatment of Delinquents and Criminals, Van Nostrands Reinhold Company, edited by Leonard J. Hippchen, Ph.D., Contributed Chapter, pp. 105-115
1978
Holistic Dimensions in Healing, Doubleday/Dolphin, Edited by Leslie J. Kaslof, Contributed Chapter
1978
Malillumination – A New Dimension in Lighting, Lighting Dimensions
Nov 1978
The Dual Function of the Eyes, Southern Journal of Optometry, Vol. 21, No. 6, pp. 5, 8-14
1979
The Dual Function of the Eyes, The Digest of Chiropractic Economics, Vol. 22, No. 1, pp. 18-23
July-Aug 1979
The Dual Function of the Eyes, The Optician, Vol. 178, No. 4595, pp. 13-15, London
July 13, 1979
Malillumination and Phototherapy, The Journal of the International Academy of Nutrition Analysts
1979
The Role of Electromagnetic Energy in Human Health and Behavior, The Journal of Energy Medicine, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 110-113
1980
School Lighting, Churchill Forum, Vol. 2, No. 3
March-April 1980
The Electric Dimension of Living Cells, Proceedings of American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists
The Effect of Light on Human Health and Behavior, A New Factor in Architectural Design, Journal of Wisconsin Society of Architects
June 1980
Syntonic Optometry and Malillumination, Journal of Syntonic Optometry
1980
The Effect of Light in Predetermination of Sex, Northern California Thoroughbred, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 34, 53
Spring 1980
Malillumination and Biological Systems: A Challenge to Designers, Planetary Association for Clean Energy Newsletter, Vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 2-4
July/Aug 1980
School Lighting and Hyperactivity, Journal for Biosocial Research, Vol. 8, Issue 1, pp. 6-7
Summer 1980
The Electrical Dimension of Living Cells, Northwest Academy of Preventive Medicine Newsletter, Vol. III, No. 7
July/Aug 1980
Light, Radiation and You, How to Stay Healthy, Devin
Adair Co.
1980
Color and Light: Their Effects on Plants, Animals and People, The International Journal of Biosocial Research, Special Subject Issue, Vol. 7
1985
Color and Light: Their Effects on Plants, Animals and People, Part II, The International Journal of Biosocial Research, Special Subject Issue, Vol. 8
1986
Color and Light: Their Effects on Plants, Animals and People, Part III, The International Journal of Biosocial Research, Special Subject Issue, Vol. 9
1987
PAPERS PRESENTED:
American Association for the Advancement of Science, Time-Lapse Photography
Dec 1947
National Geographic Society, Flowers in Action
March 1949
The University of Wisconsin, Engineering Photography
May 9-10, 1956
The University of Wisconsin, University Extension Division, Industrial Photography Applications
May 24-25, 1957
New York Academy of Sciences Photo-Neuro-Endocrine Effects in Circadian Systems, With Particular Reference to the Eye Conference, Some Responses of Plants and Animals to Variations in Wavelengths of Light
June 6-7, 1963
Fourth International Congress of Photobiology, Similar Photobiological Responses in Plants and Animals, Oxford
July 26-30, 1964
Federation Dentaire Internationale, Time-Lapse Photography, Tel Aviv
July 10-17, 1966
The Washington Unit of Academy of General Dentistry, Light Physiology
May 13, 1967
The New York Academy of Dentistry, The Influence of Light on the Retinal Hypothalamic Endocrine System
Nov 9, 1967
Fifth International Congress on Photobiology, The Effects of Environmental Lighting on Sexual Functions in White Rats
Aug 26-31, 1968
American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, Environmental Effects of Laboratory Lighting
Oct 21-25, 1968
Brooklyn Engineering Society, Engineered Light for Living
1968
Academy of General Dentistry, The Effect of Light on Life
May 10, 1969
Eleventh International Botanical Congress, Influence of Ionizing Radiation on Directional Growth of Roots and Biological Clock Rhythms in Plants
Sept 1, 1969
National Eye Research Foundation, Ocular Exposure to Trace Amounts of Ultraviolet Light as Adjunctive Therapy (Thomas G. Dickinson, M.D. and John Ott)
Nov 15, 1969
Southern Academy of Clinical Nutrition, Light
April 3-5, 1970
National Exposition of Contract Interior Furnishings, Lighting Life Health
June 17, 1970
American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, The Importance of Laboratory Lighting as an Experimental Variable
June 16-17, 1970
In addition to the above specific papers, Dr. Ott has given in excess of 4,000 lectures and seminars to many garden clubs, civic organizations, university medical schools, hospitals and scientific organizations throughout the United States and many foreign countries.
"When we speak about the quality of light and its importance to the well being of all living organisms, the contributions of Dr. John Ott stand out above those of other researchers in the field."
Dr. Ott’s "day-job" was that of a banker, with horticulture and time-lapse photography as hobbies. These hobbies soon sprouted into a pioneering career in the new field of photobiology; the study of light on living cells.
While working as a consultant for the Walt Disney "Secrets of Life" film series, Dr. Ott found that he could not successfully grow plants indoors under commonly used artificial lighting. His research found that all living organisms need the full spectrum of light provided by the sun in order to thrive. His cinematography of flowers blooming in such classic documentaries as Disney's Secrets of Life (1956), pioneered the modern use of time-lapse on film and television
Eventually Dr. Ott turned his attention towards monitoring the beneficial effects of full spectrum lighting on certain human physiological conditions. Dr. Ott discovered that the color temperature of lights affects mental health, with balanced light reducing hyperactivity in classrooms and reducing negative behavior in prisons and mental health facilities.
Dr. Ott discovered that even an individual cells' ability to properly reproduce in plants, animals and humans is affected by variances in lighting. Most importantly, he realized that light entering the body through the eyes controls and regulates our brain chemistry which in turn affects how we feel and function.
In addition to writing three books and volumes of research, Dr. Ott also published a series of seven articles in the International Journal of Biosocial Research (Tacoma, Washington), a medical journal that studies links between physical and mental health. Titled Color and Light: Their Effects on Plants, Animals, and People, the articles summed up Dr. Ott's decades of independent research, which was contrary to the established "wisdom" of pharmaceutical companies. These companies were “scaring the daylight out of us” by promoting the sudden negative effects of natural sunlight. These companies claimed that the sun was now dangerous to our skin and eyes and that we need to protect ourselves with their expensive sun screen lotion.
At the time, Dr. Ott's research efforts generally met with polite indifference from the scientific community but he soon began to attract attention from a wider public audience including an emerging trend of clinicians and medical professionals who recognize and align with his theory of malillumination... the silent epidemic.
Dr. John Ott: 10/23/09 - 04/12/2000
bE
— Dr. Jacob Liberman
LIGHT: Medicine of the Future
