Gene Elden Likens is an American ecologist and a leading pioneer in the study of acid rain. He was born on 6 January 1935 in Pierceton, Indiana, United States. He received his B.S. from Manchester College, Manchester, Indiana, USA, and his M.S. as well as Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA. He is President  Emeritus and  Founding Director of the Institute of Ecosystem Studies (IES) in Millbrook, New York, USA, which he founded in 1983, and he remains a Distinguished Senior Scientist, Ecologist at the Institute under its new name, the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. He is also Professor at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey in New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA; and Adjunct Professor at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA. Dr. Likens holds several honorary doctorates, was elected to be a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 1981 and of the American Philosophical Society in 2006. He was also awarded the 1993 Tyler Prize, the 2001 Huxley Medal, the 2001 National Medal of Science, and the 2003 Blue Planet Price for outstanding scientific research that helps to solve global environmental problems. He has written about 500 publications.