May Roberta Berenbaum (born July 22, 1953) is an American
entomologist
Entomology () is the scientific study of insects, a branch of zoology. In the past the term "insect" was less specific, and historically the definition of entomology would also include the study of animals in other arthropod groups, such as arach ...
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. She is particularly interested in
nectar
Nectar is a sugar-rich liquid produced by plants in glands called nectaries or nectarines, either within the flowers with which it attracts pollinating animals, or by extrafloral nectaries, which provide a nutrient source to animal mutualists ...
, plant
phytochemicals
Phytochemicals are chemical compounds produced by plants, generally to help them resist fungi, bacteria and plant virus infections, and also consumption by insects and other animals. The name comes . Some phytochemicals have been used as poison ...
,
honey
Honey is a sweet and viscous substance made by several bees, the best-known of which are honey bees. Honey is made and stored to nourish bee colonies. Bees produce honey by gathering and then refining the sugary secretions of plants (primar ...
and
bees
Bees are winged insects closely related to wasps and ants, known for their roles in pollination and, in the case of the best-known bee species, the western honey bee, for producing honey. Bees are a monophyletic lineage within the superfamil ...
, and her research has important implications for
beekeeping
Beekeeping (or apiculture) is the maintenance of bee colonies, commonly in man-made beehives. Honey bees in the genus '' Apis'' are the most-commonly-kept species but other honey-producing bees such as ''Melipona'' stingless bees are also kept. ...
.
She is a member of the
National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is a United States nonprofit, non-governmental organization. NAS is part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, along with the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and the Nati ...
and was named editor-in-chief of its journal, ''
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
''Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America'' (often abbreviated ''PNAS'' or ''PNAS USA'') is a peer-reviewed multidisciplinary scientific journal. It is the official journal of the National Academy of Sci ...
'' in 2019;
she is also a member of the
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society (APS), founded in 1743 in Philadelphia, is a scholarly organization that promotes knowledge in the sciences and humanities through research, professional meetings, publications, library resources, and communit ...
(1996), and a fellow of the
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences (abbreviation: AAA&S) is one of the oldest learned societies in the United States. It was founded in 1780 during the American Revolution by John Adams, John Hancock, James Bowdoin, Andrew Oliver, and ...
(1996). She has held a Maybelle Leland Swanlund Endowed Chair in
entomology
Entomology () is the science, scientific study of insects, a branch of zoology. In the past the term "insect" was less specific, and historically the definition of entomology would also include the study of animals in other arthropod groups, such ...
since 2012, which is the highest title a professor can hold at the
University of Illinois
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (U of I, Illinois, University of Illinois, or UIUC) is a public land-grant research university in Illinois in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana. It is the flagship institution of the University ...
. In 2014, she was awarded the
National Medal of Science
The National Medal of Science is an honor bestowed by the President of the United States to individuals in science and engineering who have made important contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the fields of behavioral and social scienc ...
.
Early life and education
Berenbaum graduated
summa cum laude
Latin honors are a system of Latin phrases used in some colleges and universities to indicate the level of distinction with which an academic degree has been earned. The system is primarily used in the United States. It is also used in some Sou ...
, with a
B.S.
A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for programs that generally last three to five years.
The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Science was the University ...
degree and honors in biology, from
Yale University
Yale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and among the most prestigious in the wo ...
in 1975. Berenbaum discovered an interest in entomology after taking a course on terrestrial arthropods only because it fit her schedule, and found a second passion by taking an elective course in plant biochemistry. After attending a research seminar on
chemical ecology
A chemical substance is a form of matter having constant chemical composition and characteristic properties. Some references add that chemical substance cannot be separated into its constituent elements by physical separation methods, i.e., wit ...
by Paul Feeny, she decided to integrate her interests in entomology and botany, and began a PhD supervised by Feeny at
Cornell University
Cornell University is a private statutory land-grant research university based in Ithaca, New York. It is a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, Cornell was founded with the intention to teach an ...
. Berenbaum received her
Ph.D.
A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, Ph.D., or DPhil; Latin: or ') is the most common degree at the highest academic level awarded following a course of study. PhDs are awarded for programs across the whole breadth of academic fields. Because it is ...
in ecology and
evolutionary biology
Evolutionary biology is the subfield of biology that studies the evolutionary processes (natural selection, common descent, speciation) that produced the diversity of life on Earth. It is also defined as the study of the history of life fo ...
in 1980.
Research
Berenbaum is known for her research into the chemistry of
honey
Honey is a sweet and viscous substance made by several bees, the best-known of which are honey bees. Honey is made and stored to nourish bee colonies. Bees produce honey by gathering and then refining the sugary secretions of plants (primar ...
and its importance as a
functional food
A functional food is a food claimed to have an additional (often one related to health promotion or disease prevention) by adding new ingredients or more of existing ingredients. The term may also apply to traits purposely bred into existing edi ...
for
bees
Bees are winged insects closely related to wasps and ants, known for their roles in pollination and, in the case of the best-known bee species, the western honey bee, for producing honey. Bees are a monophyletic lineage within the superfamil ...
and
wasps
A wasp is any insect of the narrow-waisted suborder Apocrita of the order Hymenoptera which is neither a bee nor an ant; this excludes the broad-waisted sawflies (Symphyta), which look somewhat like wasps, but are in a separate suborder. ...
in the superfamily
Apoidea
The superfamily (zoology), superfamily Apoidea is a major group within the Hymenoptera, which includes two traditionally recognized lineages, the "sphecidae, sphecoid" wasps, and the bees. Molecular phylogeny demonstrates that the bees arose from ...
. As of 2021, approximately 20,000 bee species are known, but there are also signs of
declines in bee populations in many countries. Berenbaum's research has shown that honey contains
phytochemicals
Phytochemicals are chemical compounds produced by plants, generally to help them resist fungi, bacteria and plant virus infections, and also consumption by insects and other animals. The name comes . Some phytochemicals have been used as poison ...
that help bees to tolerate cold, resist pesticides, fight off infections, heal wounds, and live longer. Important phytochemicals include
p-coumaric acid,
quercetin
Quercetin is a plant flavonol from the flavonoid group of polyphenols. It is found in many fruits, vegetables, leaves, seeds, and grains; capers, red onions, and kale are common foods containing appreciable amounts of it. It has a bitter flavor a ...
,
abscisic acid
Abscisic acid (ABA) is a plant hormone. ABA functions in many plant developmental processes, including seed and bud dormancy, the control of organ size and stomatal closure. It is especially important for plants in the response to environmental s ...
,
anabasine
Anabasine is a pyridine and piperidine alkaloid found in the Tree Tobacco (''Nicotiana glauca'') plant, a close relative of the common tobacco plant (''Nicotiana tabacum''). It is a structural isomer of, and chemically similar to, nicotine. Its ...
,
caffeine
Caffeine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant of the methylxanthine class. It is mainly used recreationally as a cognitive enhancer, increasing alertness and attentional performance. Caffeine acts by blocking binding of adenosine t ...
,
gallic acid
Gallic acid (also known as 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid) is a trihydroxybenzoic acid with the formula C6 H2( OH)3CO2H. It is classified as a phenolic acid. It is found in gallnuts, sumac, witch hazel, tea leaves, oak bark, and other plants. It i ...
,
kaempferol
Kaempferol (3,4′,5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone) is a natural flavonol, a type of flavonoid, found in a variety of plants and plant-derived foods including kale, beans, tea, spinach, and broccoli. Kaempferol is a yellow crystalline solid with a meltin ...
, and
thymol
Thymol (also known as 2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol, IPMP), , is a natural monoterpenoid phenol derivative of ''p''-Cymene, isomeric with carvacrol, found in oil of thyme, and extracted from ''Thymus vulgaris'' (common thyme), ajwain, and vario ...
. Furthermore, sick honeybees will choose among different types of honey and eat the one that contains the phytochemicals that can improve their health.
Berenbaum's work has important implications, suggesting changes to practices in the
beekeeping
Beekeeping (or apiculture) is the maintenance of bee colonies, commonly in man-made beehives. Honey bees in the genus '' Apis'' are the most-commonly-kept species but other honey-producing bees such as ''Melipona'' stingless bees are also kept. ...
industry which may help bees to survive. One conclusion is that floral diversity matters: bees that have the opportunity to make honey from a diverse range of flowers will be healthier bees. As well, beekeepers should leave their bees a variety of different honeys, gathered at different times from different plants, so that they have a "honey pharmacy" to choose from when ill.
Career
Since 1980, Berenbaum has been a member of the faculty of the department of entomology at the
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (U of I, Illinois, University of Illinois, or UIUC) is a public land-grant research university in Illinois in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana. It is the flagship institution of the University ...
and has served as head of the department since 1992.
In 1996, she was elected a Fellow of the
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences (abbreviation: AAA&S) is one of the oldest learned societies in the United States. It was founded in 1780 during the American Revolution by John Adams, John Hancock, James Bowdoin, Andrew Oliver, and ...
and she was elected a member of the
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society (APS), founded in 1743 in Philadelphia, is a scholarly organization that promotes knowledge in the sciences and humanities through research, professional meetings, publications, library resources, and communit ...
in the same year.
She served as the editor of ''
Annual Review of Entomology
The ''Annual Review of Entomology'' is a peer-reviewed academic journal that publishes review articles about entomology, the study of insects. First published in 1956 from a collaboration between the Entomological Society of America and Annual R ...
'' from 1997 until 2018, and was named editor-in-chief of ''
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA'' in 2019.
She has written numerous magazine articles, as well as books about insects for the general public:
* ''Ninety-nine gnats, nits, and nibblers'' (1989)
* '' Ninety-nine more maggots, mites, and munchers'' (1993)
* ''Bugs in the system : insects and their impact on human affairs'' (1995)
* ''Buzzwords : a scientist muses on sex, bugs, and rock'n roll'' (2000)
* ''Earwig's tail : a modern bestiary of multi-legged legends'' (2009)
* ''Honey, I'm homemade : sweet treats from the beehive across the centuries and around the world'' (2010)
Berenbaum has also gained some measure of fame as the organizer of the
Insect Fear Film Festival at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
[
]
Awards and honors
* A character in ''The X-Files
''The X-Files'' is an American science fiction on television, science fiction drama (film and television), drama television series created by Chris Carter (screenwriter), Chris Carter. The series revolves around Federal Bureau of Investigation ...
was'' named after her: Dr. Bambi Berenbaum, a famous entomologist and love-interest of Agent Mulder.
* She is the recipient of the 1996 Entomological Society of America
The Entomological Society of America (ESA) was founded in 1889 and today has more than 7,000 members, including educators, extension personnel, consultants, students, researchers, and scientists from agricultural departments, health agencies, ...
North Central Branch Distinguished Teaching Award
*Awarded the prestigious Ecological Society of America
The Ecological Society of America (ESA) is a professional organization of ecological scientists. Based in the United States and founded in 1915, ESA publications include peer-reviewed journals, newsletters, fact sheets, and teaching resources. I ...
Robert MacArthur Award in 2004 for outstanding contributions to ecology
* Berenbaum received the 2009 Public Understanding of Science and Technology Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is an American international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific respons ...
.
* She is an Honorary Member of the British Ecological Society
The British Ecological Society is a learned society in the field of ecology that was founded in 1913. It is the oldest ecological society in the world. The Society's original objective was "to promote and foster the study of Ecology in its widest ...
.
* In March 2011, she was awarded the University of Southern California
The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in C ...
's Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement
The Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement is an annual award for environmental science, environmental health, and energy. Tyler Laureates receive a $200,000 cash prize and a medallion. The prize is administered by the University of Southern Cal ...
.
*In 2012, she was named a Swanlund Chair at the University of Illinois
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (U of I, Illinois, University of Illinois, or UIUC) is a public land-grant research university in Illinois in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana. It is the flagship institution of the University ...
*In 2012, she received the Edward O. Wilson Biodiversity Technology Award
* In November 2014, she had her first new species named after her, a cockroach, ''Xestoblatta berenbaumae'' (Evangelista, Kaplan, & Ware 2015).
* On October 3, 2014, President Barack Obama awarded the National Medal of Science
The National Medal of Science is an honor bestowed by the President of the United States to individuals in science and engineering who have made important contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the fields of behavioral and social scienc ...
to Berenbaum. She received the medal in a White House ceremony on November 20, 2014.
Selected works
* Berenbaum, M., Miller, J. R., & Miller, T. A. (1988). ''Insect-Plant Interactions''. New York: Springer.
* Berenbaum, M. (1989). ''Ninety-nine Gnats, Nits, and Nibblers''. Urbana: University of Illinois Press.
* Rosenthal, G. A., & Berenbaum, M. R. (1992). ''Herbivores: Their Interactions with Secondary Plant Metabolites''. (Herbivores.) San Diego: Academic Press.
* Berenbaum, M. (1993). ''Ninety-nine More Maggots, Mites, and Munchers''. Urbana: University of Illinois Press.
* Berenbaum, M. (1996). ''Bugs in the System: Insects and their Impact on Human Affairs''. Reading, Mass: Addison-Wesley.
* Berenbaum, M. R. (2001). ''Buzzwords: A Scientist Muses on Sex, Bugs, and Rock'n Roll''. Washington, DC: Joseph Henry Press.
* Jeffords, M. R., Post, S. L., Warwick, C., & Berenbaum, M. (2008). ''Biologists in the Field: Stories, Tales, and Anecdotes from 150 Years of Field Biology''. Champaign, Ill: Illinois Natural History Survey.
* Berenbaum, M. R. (2009). ''Earwig's Tail - a Modern Bestiary of Multi-legged Legends''. Harvard University Press
* Berenbaum, M. R. (2010). ''Honey, I'm Homemade: Sweet Treats from the Beehive Across the Centuries and Around the World''. Urbana: University of Illinois Press.
* Sadava, D. E., Hillis, D. M., Heller, H. C., & Berenbaum, M. (2014). ''Life: The Science of Biology''. 10th ed.
*
References
External links
*
May Berenbaum
at National Academy of Sciences
{{DEFAULTSORT:Berenbaum, May
1953 births
Living people
American entomologists
Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences alumni
Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign faculty
Yale College alumni
National Medal of Science laureates
Fellows of the Ecological Society of America
Members of the American Philosophical Society
Women entomologists
Entomological writers
American women biologists
Jewish biologists
Chemical ecologists
Annual Reviews (publisher) editors
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America editors