In human thermodynamics, John Scales Avery (1933-) is a Lebanese-born Danish theoretical chemist noted for the publication of his 2003 book Information Theory and Evolution, in which it is argued that the phenomenon of life, including it origin and evolution (cultural evolution included), is founded on the background of thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, and information theory. In order to explain the seeming contradiction between the second law of thermodynamics, i.e. that closed ideal gas phase systems tend towards disorder, and the high degree of order and complexity produced by living systems, Avery argues that this paradox has its resolution in the information content of the Gibbs free energy that enters the biosphere from outside sources. [1]

Education
Avery completed his BS in physics in 1954 at MIT; his MS in physics in 1955 at the University of Chicago; and PhD in theoretical chemistry in 1965 at Imperial College, London.

References
1. Avery, John (2003). Information Theory and Evolution. New Jersey: World Scientific.

External links
● Biography – Overview.
● John Avery (faculty) – University of Copenhagen.
● John Avery List Publications - Danish Peace Academy.