Full Name
Dr. Stephen Smith
Job Title
Associate Professor
Company
Iowa State University
Speaker Bio
Dr. Stephen Smith (B.Sc. University of London), M.Sc. (Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources) and Ph.D. (Evolution of Maize, University of Birmingham, U.K.).
I grew up on a farm in eastern England, 16 miles west of Boston, Lincolnshire. We grew potatoes, faba beans, wheat, barley, and sugarbeet. I came to the US in 1977 as a postdoctoral student to conduct maize genetics, diversity, and evolution research using isozymes at NCSU with Drs Major. M. Goodman and Charles W. Stuber. In 2015 I completed a 35 year scientific research career with Dupont Pioneer in the use of molecular markers and studies into genetic gain. I have received the Henry A. Wallace Award for Revolution in agriculture and DuPont’s highest scientific recognition, the Lavoisier Medal for scientific achievement. During my tenure at Pioneer I served on intellectual property committees of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) and the International Seed Federation (ISF). I have been involved in several lawsuits regarding the protection of maize intellectual property. I recently served as an expert witness for the US Federal Bureau of Investigation regarding a case of misappropriation of US corn genetics by foreign nationals. I am a Fellow of the Crop Science Society of America and in 2017 and 2018 was made an Honorary Lifetime Member of ASTA and of the ISF respectively, in recognition of services rendered. I am currently an affiliate Professor and visiting scientist in the Departments of Agronomy and Seed Science at Iowa State University, USA.
In my spare time I play the organ and work on various committees with the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra having served as President of the Symphony Association and the Symphony Foundation Association. I am also a Board member of Living History Farms, an outdoor historical museum in Des Moines.
I grew up on a farm in eastern England, 16 miles west of Boston, Lincolnshire. We grew potatoes, faba beans, wheat, barley, and sugarbeet. I came to the US in 1977 as a postdoctoral student to conduct maize genetics, diversity, and evolution research using isozymes at NCSU with Drs Major. M. Goodman and Charles W. Stuber. In 2015 I completed a 35 year scientific research career with Dupont Pioneer in the use of molecular markers and studies into genetic gain. I have received the Henry A. Wallace Award for Revolution in agriculture and DuPont’s highest scientific recognition, the Lavoisier Medal for scientific achievement. During my tenure at Pioneer I served on intellectual property committees of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) and the International Seed Federation (ISF). I have been involved in several lawsuits regarding the protection of maize intellectual property. I recently served as an expert witness for the US Federal Bureau of Investigation regarding a case of misappropriation of US corn genetics by foreign nationals. I am a Fellow of the Crop Science Society of America and in 2017 and 2018 was made an Honorary Lifetime Member of ASTA and of the ISF respectively, in recognition of services rendered. I am currently an affiliate Professor and visiting scientist in the Departments of Agronomy and Seed Science at Iowa State University, USA.
In my spare time I play the organ and work on various committees with the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra having served as President of the Symphony Association and the Symphony Foundation Association. I am also a Board member of Living History Farms, an outdoor historical museum in Des Moines.
Speaking At
