Chris Smith (biologist)
Chris Smith | |
|---|---|
| Born | Christopher Irwin Smith |
| Occupation(s) | Associate Professor of Biology; Department Chair |
| Known for | Study of yucca moths and yucca trees |
| Notable work | Coevolution of Joshua trees and their Pollinators |
Chris Smith is an associate professor of biology at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, United States. In 2013 he received a grant for his work studying the relationship between yucca moths and yucca trees.
Background[edit]
In 2013, Smith received a National Science Foundation CAREER award of $850,000[1] for his work studying the co-evolution of yucca trees and their pollinators, yucca moths.[2] He had the distinction of being the university's first faculty member to receive a CAREER award.[3]
With Emily Drew, Smith also teaches the interdisciplinary course "Race, Racism, and Human Genetics",[4][5] which examines how scientific endeavors had been affected by racial outlooks. The course originated from a discussion Smith and Drew had on the topic in 2012.[6]
Study of yucca and joshua trees[edit]
Smith has studied the northward migration of yucca and joshua trees, and the possible hybridization of the Eastern and Western varieties, either of which may be related to climate change.[7][8]
Challenging views on race[edit]
Smith is an advocate for the dismantling of racist pseudoscientific beliefs.[9] On October 8, 2012, he and fellow Willamette associate professor Emily Drew, an anti-racism workshop facilitator, led a discussion on the misrepresentation of race and racial differences, presented at the Bagdad Theater and Pub in Portland, Oregon.[10][11]
References[edit]
- ^ Willamette University June 09, 2014 Biology professor Emma Coddington awarded NSF CAREER grant by University Communications Archived 2016-01-03 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Oregon Live June 15, 2014 Willamette University biologists pull in some big bucks for science: science roundup By Susannah L. Bodman
- ^ Willamette University September 04, 2013 Biology professor Chris Smith awarded NSF CAREER grant by University Communications Archived 2016-02-03 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Willamette Collegian Nov 18th, 2014 Non-white faculty at 17%, Faculty diversity remains a priority By Andres Oswill Archived April 30, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Mixed Race Studies Breast cancer and racialized medicine
- ^ Portland Mercury Modern Science and the Legacy of Scientific Racism When: Mon., Oct. 8, 7 p.m. 2012
- ^ Nothing In Biology Makes Sense Apr 17 Notes from the field: What’s Chris doing to that Joshua tree? by Jeremy Yoder
- ^ High Country News April 28, 2014 Joshua trees may be migrating north in response to climate change
- ^ Nothing in Biology Makes Sense Scientists at work among the Joshua trees by Jeremy Yoder
- ^ Meetup.com Center for Enquiry, Scientific Racism - Bagdad Theater, Oct 8
- ^ Portland Mercury Modern Science and the Legacy of Scientific Racism When: Mon., Oct. 8, 7 p.m. 2012