"Recognized for his balanced presentation, accuracy, and use of language, K. Lee Lerner's extensive dossier contains multiple award-winning books and media projects. Across more than three decades and from every continent, Lerner's writing and thought-provoking 'Taking Bearings' essays have ranged the human intellectual enterprise to offer evidence-based insights on science, technology, and global issues. Lerner's influential Academia site consistently ranks among those most frequently accessed by students, scholars, and decision makers around the world." National Press Club profile
"A skilled aviator, sailor, and scholar, Lerner's global experience, including two circumnavigations, enriches his writing and adds diverse perspectives to his commentary. His portfolio of stories and photos touches on every continent, and his perceptive writing and photos–often from challenging areas suffering civil unrest, disease outbreak, or natural disaster–bring clarity to chaotic events and complex issues." IMDb
K. Lee Lerner is a member of the National Press Club in Washington, DC; Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO); U.S. Naval Institute; Tailhook Association; Phi Kappa Phi (the nation's oldest all-discipline academic honorary society), the Harvard Alumni Association; and the Harvard Club of Boston. He was a delegate to the World Congress of Science and Factual Producers (Paris 2011) and twice a delegate to the International Society for Infectious Diseases World Congress (Lisbon 2006 and Kuala Lumpur 2008). He remains an internationally licensed pilot (FAA and ICAO-UK ) and sailboat captain.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Author, contributing subject matter expert (SME) editor, and/or advisor to more than 45 book and media projects. Co-editor of Biotechnology (2013) and Climate Change (2009), books honored with American Library Association RUSA Book and Media Awards, which the ALA describes as the "highest award or honor for academic reference books and media." A third book, Infectious Disease (2008), was named an Outstanding Academic Title. Lerner has notably served as the editor-in-chief for the Encyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence, and Security, and during content development, for Gale's Global Issues in Context (GIC), an online news service and academic reference resource. After GIC's launch in 2009, he continued as a contributing SME and advisor for science and public health content from 2010 to 2018. Lerner was instrumental in developing the "In Context" concept for Cengage, and GIC was one of the first internet-based resources to be named an Outstanding Academic Title, a designation previously reserved for books. Lerner was the co-editor for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th editions of the Gale Encyclopedia of Science, and a contributing advisor for the 6th edition. Since 2002, Lerner has served as the primary contributing SME and advisor for Gale's Science in Context reference database and, since 2003, on the board of advisors for the venerable American Men and Women of Science.
Holding an M.Ed. and licensed teacher certifications, Lerner has designed curricula for dozens of HS, AP, and college-level courses. He has served as an instructor for AP Physics, AP Chemistry, AP Biology, Earth Science, College Physics for premeds, and calculus-based University Physics for scientists and engineers.
"Co-founder of LMG (London, Paris, and Boston), Lerner also serves as principal investigator for AGC's Artificial Intelligence Lab, "dedicated to the interdisciplinary development and testing of artificial intelligence learning protocols, the detection of generative AI content, and the creation of reasoned and prudent polices regarding the applications of artificial intelligence." ResearchGate
A sample of projects undertaken at Harvard offering a more detailed account of Lerner's global experience is available at projects.iq.harvard.edu/displacedbydisaster/about-author A bibliography is available at scholar.harvard.edu/kleelerner/bibliography.
A fully hyperlinked version of this CV Breve is maintained at scholar.harvard.edu/kleelerner/biocv/cv along with a sample of critical reviews of Lerner's work at scholar.harvard.edu/kleelerner/biocv
EDUCATION OVERVIEW
"Spanning science, education, and journalism with multiple master's degrees, including a master's with academic honors from Harvard, Lerner's graduate studies were built on a broad and deep interdisciplinary foundation of advanced coursework in physics, chemistry, and molecular biology. Those studies sharpen Lerner's critical and evidence-based writing on topics ranging from the science and technology underpinning security issues to advances in biotechnology and artificial intelligence. Lerner's graduate training in journalism with electives in epidemiology, law, and disaster management at Harvard along with professional programs in crisis leadership and crisis communications at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and T.H. Chan School of Public Health add scholarly depth to Lerner's writing and advising on global issues... With an emphasis on making STEM education more accessible, Lerner also holds an M.Ed. (USA). For superior academic performance in graduate studies, Lerner was admitted to Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest all-discipline academic honor society." Harvard Alumni Profile
Professional / Critical Reviews
2013 RUSA Book and Media Award, the "highest award or honor for academic reference books and media." American Library Association
"...simple, engaging style… authoritative and concises… unbiased… " Booklist, October 2012
Outstanding Academic Title, 2009: “Exceptionally fine… authoritative… comprehensive.” American Library Association's Choice Magazine, October, 2008
2009 RUSA Book and Media Award, American Library Association
”Timely… clear… concise... stunning… an excellent guide to a vitally important issue.” Reference Review October 2008
A significant survey of the "turbulent currents of intellectual thought.” Reed Elsevier
"...how we came to know what we know about our world and ourselves. Strongly recommended.” Library Journal
"...a truly exceptional book... I have never seen the relevance of mathematics explained this well... a great pleasure." RUSQ, Fall 2006
American Reference Books Annual Best of Reference
Encyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence, and Security
Selected to be part of Georgetown University's Selected Resources for Security Studies, the Defense Intelligence Agency Library, FBI Academic Library, Naval War College Library, UK Defence Staff College, and other official defense/intelligence collections.
"An excellent general resource... The books are a sound starter resource for undergraduate students.” Guide to Research, Georgetown University Library
Part of the Defense Intelligence Agency collection, selected for the collections at the John F. Kennedy School of Government Library at Harvard University, Georgetown University, and National Defense University.
"...will make users of this source as knowledgeable about extremist groups as they can possibly be...." ARBA, March 2007
"...for students doing in-depth research... the one to use." Reed Elsevier
"The introduction on extremism is well worth reading… An excellent source for novice or experienced researchers. Highly recommended." Choice Magazine, October 2006
Essential Primary Sources (EPS)
Insights and primary source documents on leading issues of the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. (10 volumes)
“Well-written..." Choice Magazine
"...packs an impressive selection of primary source material, both in terms of subject coverage and format.” Booklist, September 2006
Medicine, Health, and Bioethics
”...a sweeping view of events over the last 200 years.” School Library Journal
“...valuable and well organized” RUSQ, Spring 2007
"...thoughtful, and the analyses are cognet and well written." American Reference Books Annual, March 2007
"...insight into emerging concepts of rights and a global perspective of successes and failures in civil rights movements." Book News, 2007
Government Politics and Protest:
“…balanced, broad ranging, and very accessible.” Booklist, April 2007
Immigration and Multiculturalism
"Well written... a valuable reference work for almost any library." -- Choice, June 2007
"A remarkably varied set of sources.…both the women's and gay rights movements are well-covered .. the variety of topics and works that makes this collection most notable and interesting... a more layered study of gender and sexuality..." Eric W. Trekell, Director, LGBT Campus Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Doomed: The Science Behind Disasters
“ The three volumes in this excellent set cover 100 natural and man-made disasters occurring since 1900..." — American Reference Books Annual
Selected for inclusion in the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation Library at Quantico, VA.
Human Geography: People and the Environment
2013 Ameriican Library Association LMC Editor's Choice.
"Well-thought-out articles... excellent information is on point inside a slick, colorful, presentation..."-- Library Journal
RUSA Book and Media Award, the "highest award or honor for academic reference books and media." American Library Association
Outstanding Academic Title, American Library Association's Choice Magazine,
Environmental Science In Context
"...goes beyond the coverage of other reference sources by considering the historical and cultural framework." ----Mary Ellen Quinn. Booklist, April, 2009
"The presentation is even-handed and sometimes-complex concepts are well explained..." School Library Journal, 2012
"...a core, essential, and vitally important addition to high school, community, college, and university library ...” Bookwatch
“This encyclopedia conveys the basics of energy science in simple and clear text while offering an unbiased explanation of the impact of energy on human life and the environment." — Booklist
