John (Ivan) Boris Balinsky (July 4, 1934 in Kyiv, Ukrainian SSR – October 1, 1983 in Ames, Iowa, Iowa, United States) - South African and American zoologist of Ukrainian origin. His father Boris Balinsky was an embryologist.

Life

Balinsky was born in Kyiv into a family of biologists; his father was university professor Boris Balinsky and his mother, Catherine Singaiivska, was a laboratory researcher. His mother died after return from a Soviet prison during World War II.

Science

Balinsky studied amphibian physiology. He investigated cell environmental adaptation regulation during development. Authored 47 research publications, including «Comparative Biochemistry of Nitrogen Metabolism» chapter.

Also described several species of Echinodermata:

• Ophiactis delagoa JB Balinsky, 1957
• Macrophiothrix mossambica JB Balinsky, 1957
• Amphiura inhacensis JB Balinsky, 1957

Awards and grants

• Witwatersrand Council of Education Overseas Scholarship (1956)
• Nuffield Foundation in dominions (1962)
• Carnegie Corporation of New York (1967)
• U. S. National Institutes of Health International Fellowship (1968)
• South African Council for the scientific and Industrial Research Senior Bursary (1975)
• Harry Oppenheimer Fellowship Award (1975)

Science organization membership

• AAAS
• Biochemical Society
• Royal Society of South Africa
• Physiological Society of Southern Africa
• Society for Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes of Southern Africa

Vice chairman (1974-1975) for the South African Biochemical Society and the chairman (1973-1974) of the Society for Experimental Biology, Transvaal.

Sources

• "Biographical note in John B. Balinsky Papers 1976–1983". University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.
• Balinsky, Boris (1988). Digital surrogate of Boris Balinsky Memoir. University of Illinois Archives.