David Smith (botanist)
Encyclopedia
Professor Sir David Cecil Smith (born 21 May 1930) FRS FRSE
was the Principal of Edinburgh University from 1987 to 1994, and President
of Wolfson College, Oxford
.
Born in Port Talbot
, South Wales
, he studied Botany
at The Queen's College, Oxford
, and became a University Lecturer at Oxford University.
He held the Chair of Botany at Bristol University, and returned to Oxford as Sibthorpian Professor of Rural Economy.
After a period as Principal of Edinburgh University, he again returned to Oxford as President of Wolfson College
, which he left in September 2000.
He was awarded the Gold Medal for Botany
of the Linnean Society
and served as its President (2000–2003).
He is a distinguished supporter of the British Humanist Association
http://www.humanism.org.uk/about/people/distinguished-supporters.
He is a member of the Advisory Council for the Campaign for Science and Engineering
.
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
was the Principal of Edinburgh University from 1987 to 1994, and President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of Wolfson College, Oxford
Wolfson College, Oxford
Wolfson College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Located in north Oxford along the River Cherwell, Wolfson is an all-graduate college with over sixty governing body fellows, in addition to both research and junior research fellows. It caters to a wide range of...
.
Born in Port Talbot
Port Talbot
Port Talbot is a town in Neath Port Talbot, Wales. It had a population of 35,633 in 2001.-History:Port Talbot grew out of the original small port and market town of Aberafan , which belonged to the medieval Lords of Afan. The area of the parish of Margam lying on the west bank of the lower Afan...
, South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
, he studied 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...
at The Queen's College, Oxford
The Queen's College, Oxford
The Queen's College, founded 1341, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Queen's is centrally situated on the High Street, and is renowned for its 18th-century architecture...
, and became a University Lecturer at Oxford University.
He held the Chair of Botany at Bristol University, and returned to Oxford as Sibthorpian Professor of Rural Economy.
After a period as Principal of Edinburgh University, he again returned to Oxford as President of Wolfson College
Wolfson College, Oxford
Wolfson College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Located in north Oxford along the River Cherwell, Wolfson is an all-graduate college with over sixty governing body fellows, in addition to both research and junior research fellows. It caters to a wide range of...
, which he left in September 2000.
He was awarded the Gold Medal for Botany
Linnean Medal
The Linnean Medal of the Linnean Society of London was established in 1888, and is awarded annually to alternately a botanist or a zoologist or to one of each in the same year...
of the Linnean Society
Linnean Society of London
The Linnean Society of London is the world's premier society for the study and dissemination of taxonomy and natural history. It publishes a zoological journal, as well as botanical and biological journals...
and served as its President (2000–2003).
He is a distinguished supporter of the British Humanist Association
British Humanist Association
The British Humanist Association is an organisation of the United Kingdom which promotes Humanism and represents "people who seek to live good lives without religious or superstitious beliefs." The BHA is committed to secularism, human rights, democracy, egalitarianism and mutual respect...
http://www.humanism.org.uk/about/people/distinguished-supporters.
He is a member of the Advisory Council for the Campaign for Science and Engineering
Campaign for Science and Engineering
The Campaign for Science and Engineering is a non-profit organization which promotes science and engineering in the UK. It focuses on arguing for more research funding, promoting a high-tech and knowledge-based economy, highlighting the need for top-quality science and maths education at all...
.