John S. Kauer

John S. Kauer is a professor emeritus at the Tufts University School of Medicine. He is known for his pioneering work on the anatomy and physiology of the vertebrate olfactory system, in particular of the tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum).

Early in his academic journey, John S. Kauer conducted groundbreaking experiments that introduced meticulous methodologies for controlling olfactory stimuli. These innovative approaches unveiled profound insights into the intricacies of odor coding within the olfactory bulb. Notably, he harnessed the power of digital imaging to track neuronal activity, broadening the frontiers of olfactory exploration.

The laboratory's endeavors underscored a paradigm-shifting revelation: odors are encoded within the peripheral olfactory system through a parallel distributed architecture. This conceptual breakthrough, now known as "combinatorial" coding, has evolved into a cornerstone of olfactory understanding. Beyond his foundational contributions, Kauer's ingenuity extended to the realm of applied science. Drawing inspiration from biological olfactory principles, he engineered a groundbreaking device for the detection of land mines. This device adeptly identifies the presence of 2,4-Dinitrotoluene (DNT), a precursor to the explosive compound trinitrotoluene (TNT).