Wofford College professor John Lane has been combining writing with environmental studies for decades, and his poetry and prose has made its mark in both academic and popular circles. He also serves as director of the Goodall Environmental Studies Center at Wofford and has recently been honored with the Water Conservationist Award from the South Carolina Wildlife Federation and an induction into the South Carolina Academy of Authors. His 2011 book “My Paddle to the Sea” uses his 200-mile kayak trip from his South Carolina backyard to the Atlantic Ocean as a framing device to showcase critical water issues in the southeast.