Edmund Ware Sinnott
Encyclopedia
Edmund Ware Sinnott was an American botanist and prolific textbook
author. He is best known for his work in plant morphology
.
with Arthur J. Eames from 1910-1911. Upon graduation, he became an instructor at Harvard, and worked with I. W. Bailey, the anatomist. From 1915-1928, he was at the Connecticut Agricultural College
at Storrs
, becoming Professor of Botany
and Genetics
. From 1928-1939, he was Professor of Botany at Barnard College
and chair of the Botany Department at Columbia University
(1939-1940). In 1940, he moved to Yale University
to become Sterling Professor
of Botany, chair of the Botany Department (1940-1956), director of the Marsh Botanical Garden
(1940-1950), dean of the Graduate School (1950-1956) and director of Sheffield Scientific School
(1945-1956).
He was also made editor of the American Journal of Botany
, member of the National Academy of Sciences
, and president of the Botanical Society of America, the American Society of Naturalists
and the American Association for the Advancement of Science
.
He retired in 1956 and died in New Haven in 1968.
, Sinnott devoted much of his time to writing about science in society, forming the basis for the books Cell and Psyche (1950), Two Roads to Truth (1953), The Biology of the Spirit (1955), Life and Mind (1956), Matter, Mind, and Man (1957) and The Bridge of Life: From Matter to Spirit (1966).
In his teaching, Sinnott stressed the idea of scientific discovery and the importance of making careful measurements and correctly interpreting data. He endeavored to explain the organism as an integrated whole from the sum of its parts, processes and history.
Textbook
A textbook or coursebook is a manual of instruction in any branch of study. Textbooks are produced according to the demands of educational institutions...
author. He is best known for his work in plant morphology
Plant anatomy
Plant anatomy or phytotomy is the general term for the study of the internal structure of plants. While originally it included plant morphology, which is the description of the physical form and external structure of plants, since the mid-20th century the investigations of plant anatomy are...
.
Life
Sinnott received his A.B. in 1908, his M.A. in 1910, and his Ph.D. in 1913 all from Harvard. He had studied in AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
with Arthur J. Eames from 1910-1911. Upon graduation, he became an instructor at Harvard, and worked with I. W. Bailey, the anatomist. From 1915-1928, he was at the Connecticut Agricultural College
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
at Storrs
Storrs, Connecticut
Storrs is a census-designated place and part of the town of Mansfield, Connecticut located in eastern Tolland County. The population was 10,996 at the 2000 census...
, becoming Professor of Botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
and Genetics
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
. From 1928-1939, he was Professor of Botany at Barnard College
Barnard College
Barnard College is a private women's liberal arts college and a member of the Seven Sisters. Founded in 1889, Barnard has been affiliated with Columbia University since 1900. The campus stretches along Broadway between 116th and 120th Streets in the Morningside Heights neighborhood in the borough...
and chair of the Botany Department at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
(1939-1940). In 1940, he moved to Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
to become Sterling Professor
Sterling Professor
A Sterling Professorship is the highest academic rank at Yale University, awarded to a tenured faculty member considered one of the best in his or her field...
of Botany, chair of the Botany Department (1940-1956), director of the Marsh Botanical Garden
Marsh Botanical Garden
The Marsh Botanical Garden is a botanical garden, arboretum, and greenhouses located on the Yale University campus at 277 Mansfield Street, New Haven, Connecticut, USA....
(1940-1950), dean of the Graduate School (1950-1956) and director of Sheffield Scientific School
Sheffield Scientific School
Sheffield Scientific School was founded in 1847 as a school of Yale College in New Haven, Connecticut for instruction in science and engineering. Originally named the Yale Scientific School, it was renamed in 1861 in honor of Joseph E. Sheffield, the railroad executive. The school was...
(1945-1956).
He was also made editor of the American Journal of Botany
American Journal of Botany
The American Journal of Botany is a peer-reviewed scientific journal which includes research papers on all aspects of plant biology. It is published by the Botanical Society of America on a monthly basis since 1914....
, member of the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
, and president of the Botanical Society of America, the American Society of Naturalists
American Society of Naturalists
The American Society of Naturalists was founded in 1883 and is one of the oldest professional societies dedicated to the biological sciences in North America...
and the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
.
He retired in 1956 and died in New Haven in 1968.
Works
Throughout his life, Sinnott was a prolific author; he wrote ninety scientific articles and many textbooks. His works include Botany, Principles and Problems (1923, sixth edition in 1963), Principles of Genetics (1925, third edition in 1934), Laboratory Manual for Elementary Botany (1927), and Plant Morphogenesis (1960). After World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Sinnott devoted much of his time to writing about science in society, forming the basis for the books Cell and Psyche (1950), Two Roads to Truth (1953), The Biology of the Spirit (1955), Life and Mind (1956), Matter, Mind, and Man (1957) and The Bridge of Life: From Matter to Spirit (1966).
In his teaching, Sinnott stressed the idea of scientific discovery and the importance of making careful measurements and correctly interpreting data. He endeavored to explain the organism as an integrated whole from the sum of its parts, processes and history.