Peter Castro, a professor emeritus of the biological sciences department, has been named general editor of the Journal of Crustacean Biology, a quarterly peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Castro was a fixture of the campus from 1972 until 2003, when he retired. During his time at Cal Poly Pomona, he authored dozens of scientific papers, and co-authored a textbook, Marine Biology, which offers an in-depth overview of marine ecosystems. First published in 1991, the book is now in its tenth edition, plus editions in six other languages and a new edition for high school students, Marine Science.

Castro also obtained a bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in art history from Cal Poly Pomona in 1992.

In 2012, Castro bequeathed nearly $1.5 million to fund two scholarships in the College of Science. The Rachel Carson Environmental Science Scholarship provides $10,000 per year to support undergraduate or graduate student research. The Honors Scholarship for the Study of the Environment provides $10,000 per year to an incoming freshman or transfer student in the Kellogg Honors College studying the natural environment.