May R. Berenbaum

May R. Berenbaum is an American entomologist renowned for her pioneering research in chemical ecology and insect-plant interactions. A professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, she has made seminal contributions to understanding how insects, particularly Lepidoptera, cope with plant defensive chemicals. Her prolific career extends beyond the laboratory into influential public engagement, where she addresses critical issues like pollinator decline and combats public misconceptions about insects.

Early life and education

Born in Trenton, New Jersey, Berenbaum developed an early fascination with the natural world. She pursued her undergraduate education at Yale University, graduating with a degree in biology. She then earned her Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology from Cornell University in 1980, where she studied under the guidance of noted entomologist Robert L. Metcalf. Her doctoral research focused on the coevolutionary arms race between parsnip webworms and their host plants, setting the trajectory for her future work in chemical ecology.

Academic career and research

Berenbaum joined the faculty of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1980, where she has remained for her entire career, eventually becoming head of the Department of Entomology. Her research program extensively investigates the biochemical adaptations of insects to toxic compounds in their environment, such as furanoocoumarins in plants. She has authored foundational studies on the cytochrome P450 enzyme systems in insects like the black swallowtail butterfly, which detoxify plant allelochemicals. Her work has profoundly advanced the field of evolutionary ecology, providing key insights into herbivore adaptation, plant defense, and the impacts of climate change on these complex interactions.

Awards and honors

Berenbaum's scientific excellence has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards. In 2014, she was awarded the National Medal of Science by President Barack Obama. She is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society. Other notable honors include the Fry Medal from the Canadian Society of Zoologists, the Silverstein-Simeone Award from the International Society of Chemical Ecology, and the Lillian E. Smith Award for her writing. She has also served as president of both the Entomological Society of America and the American Institute of Biological Sciences.

Public engagement and science communication

A passionate advocate for science literacy, Berenbaum is celebrated for making entomology accessible and engaging to broad audiences. She founded the popular Insect Fear Film Festival at the University of Illinois to reshape public perceptions through cinema. She is a frequent contributor to public discourse, writing a long-running column for the American Entomologist and authoring several popular books, including *Buzzwords* and *The Earwig's Tail*. She has testified before the United States Congress on issues like colony collapse disorder and has been a prominent voice in national media, including appearances on programs like NOVA and interviews with National Public Radio.

Selected publications

Berenbaum is the author of hundreds of scientific papers and several influential books. Key scholarly works include *Chemical Mediation of Coevolution* and the edited volume *Herbivores: Their Interactions with Secondary Plant Metabolites*. Her popular science books, such as *Bugs in the System: Insects and Their Impact on Human Affairs* and *Honey, I'm Homemade: Sweet Treats from the Beehive*, exemplify her skill in translating complex science for the public. Her research articles are frequently published in leading journals like *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences*, *Evolution*, and *Journal of Chemical Ecology*.

Category:American entomologists Category:National Medal of Science recipients Category:University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign faculty Category:1953 births Category:Living people