May Berenbaum
Encyclopedia
May Roberta Berenbaum is an American entomologist
whose research focuses on the chemical interactions between herbivorous insects and their host-plants, and the implications of these interactions on the organization of natural communities and the evolution of species.
Berenbaum graduated summa cum laude, with a B.S. degree and honors in biology, from Yale University
in 1975; she attended graduate school at Cornell University
and received a Ph.D.
in ecology and evolutionary biology in 1980.
Since 1980, Berenbaum has been a member of the faculty of the department of entomology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
and has served as head of the department since 1992. In addition to her research, she is devoted to teaching and to fostering scientific literacy
. In 1996, she was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
. she is the recipient of the 1996 Entomological Society of America
North Central Branch Distinguished Teaching Award and has authored numerous magazine articles, as well as three books about insects for the general public. She has also gained some measure of fame as the organizer of the Insect Fear Film Festival
at the University of Illinois, an annual celebration of Hollywood's entomological excesses.
In September 2007, a scientist's report found that a virus may be the cause of colony collapse disorder
, a phenomenon causing the sudden and widespread death of honeybee populations. Dr. W. Ian Lipkin, a Columbia University
epidemiologist stated that the finding used a new genetic technique and statistics to identify Israeli acute paralysis virus as a potential cause of massive deaths of worker bees. Jerry Hayes
, chief of the apiary
section of Florida
's Agriculture
Department confirmed the study but stressed that it is just part of the problem. Berenbaum, a University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign entomologist found that colony collapse disorder is only the latest devastating problem of bees and other pollinator
populations across North America
. CCD destroyed 50%–90% of commercial honeybee hives in the U.S.
Berenbaum received the 2009 Public Understanding of Science and Technology Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science
.
She also had a character in The X-Files
named after her: Dr. Bambi Berenbaum, a famous entomologist and love-interest of Agent Mulder.
In March 2011, she was awarded the University of Southern California
's Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement
.
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
whose research focuses on the chemical interactions between herbivorous insects and their host-plants, and the implications of these interactions on the organization of natural communities and the evolution of species.
Berenbaum graduated summa cum laude, with a B.S. degree and honors in biology, from 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...
in 1975; she attended graduate school at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
and received a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in ecology and evolutionary biology in 1980.
Since 1980, Berenbaum has been a member of the faculty of the department of entomology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
and has served as head of the department since 1992. In addition to her research, she is devoted to teaching and to fostering scientific literacy
Scientific literacy
Scientific literacy encompasses written, numerical, and digital literacy as they pertain to understanding science, its methodology, observations, and theories.-Definition:...
. In 1996, she was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
. she is the recipient of the 1996 Entomological Society of America
Entomological Society of America
The Entomological Society of America was founded in 1889 and today has more than 6,000 members, including educators, extension personnel, consultants, students, researchers, and scientists from agricultural departments, health agencies, private industries, colleges and universities, and state and...
North Central Branch Distinguished Teaching Award and has authored numerous magazine articles, as well as three books about insects for the general public. She has also gained some measure of fame as the organizer of the Insect Fear Film Festival
Insect Fear Film Festival
The Insect Fear Film Festival has been held annually at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign since 1984. Its format has generally consisted of two or three feature-length films alternating with animated or live-action shorts that illustrate various aspects of insect biology.The film...
at the University of Illinois, an annual celebration of Hollywood's entomological excesses.
In September 2007, a scientist's report found that a virus may be the cause of colony collapse disorder
Colony Collapse Disorder
Colony collapse disorder is a phenomenon in which worker bees from a beehive or European honey bee colony abruptly disappear. While such disappearances have occurred throughout the history of apiculture, the term colony collapse disorder was first applied to a drastic rise in the number of...
, a phenomenon causing the sudden and widespread death of honeybee populations. Dr. W. Ian Lipkin, a 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...
epidemiologist stated that the finding used a new genetic technique and statistics to identify Israeli acute paralysis virus as a potential cause of massive deaths of worker bees. Jerry Hayes
Jerry Hayes
Jeremy Joseph James Hayes, known as Jerry Hayes, is a British former Conservative politician, the MP for Harlow in Essex from 1983 until 1997. He subsequently returned to practising criminal law.-Political career:...
, chief of the apiary
Apiary
An apiary is a place where beehives of honey bees are kept. Traditionally beekeepers paid land rent in honey for the use of small parcels. Some farmers will provide free apiary sites, because they need pollination, and farmers who need many hives often pay for them to be moved to the crops when...
section of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
's Agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
Department confirmed the study but stressed that it is just part of the problem. Berenbaum, a University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign entomologist found that colony collapse disorder is only the latest devastating problem of bees and other pollinator
Pollinator
A pollinator is the biotic agent that moves pollen from the male anthers of a flower to the female stigma of a flower to accomplish fertilization or syngamy of the female gamete in the ovule of the flower by the male gamete from the pollen grain...
populations across North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. CCD destroyed 50%–90% of commercial honeybee hives in the U.S.
Berenbaum received the 2009 Public Understanding of Science and Technology Award from 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...
.
She also had a character in The X-Files
The X-Files
The X-Files is an American science fiction television series and a part of The X-Files franchise, created by screenwriter Chris Carter. The program originally aired from to . The show was a hit for the Fox network, and its characters and slogans became popular culture touchstones in the 1990s...
named after her: Dr. Bambi Berenbaum, a famous entomologist and love-interest of Agent Mulder.
In March 2011, she was awarded the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
's Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement
Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement
The Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement is an award for environmental science, environmental health and energy. Tyler Laureates receive a $200,000 annual prize and a gold medallion...
.