Caryl Parker Haskins facts for kids

Caryl Parker Haskins (born 1908, died 2001) was an amazing American scientist. He was also an author, inventor, and a kind helper to many organizations. He was a pioneer in studying ants, which is called entomology. With his friend Franklin S. Cooper, he started Haskins Laboratories in 1935. This was a special research lab that didn't aim to make money. He also taught at Union College and helped guide important groups like the Carnegie Institution of Washington and the Smithsonian Institution.

Caryl Haskins's Journey in Science

Caryl Haskins first studied at Yale University, earning a science degree in 1930. He then got his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1935. Throughout his life, many universities gave him special science degrees.

From 1937 to 1955, Haskins was a research professor at Union College. He also did research at MIT from 1935 to 1945.

In the late 1940s, Haskins started studying Guppies. He looked at how they evolved in the streams of Trinidad. He noticed that male Guppies living upstream were more colorful. This was probably because there were fewer predators (animals that hunt them) in those areas.

He also kept up his research on ants. He worked with his wife, Edna Haskins, whom he married in 1940, and other scientists.

About Haskins Laboratories

In the 1930s, Caryl Haskins was inspired by Alfred Lee Loomis to create his own research center. He founded Haskins Laboratories in 1935. This lab worked with top universities like Harvard University, MIT, and Union College.

Haskins did research in many areas, including microbiology (the study of tiny living things) and radiation physics. The lab was first in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Schenectady, New York. In 1939, Haskins Laboratories moved its main office to New York City.

• A scientist named Seymour Hutner joined to start a program on microbiology, genetics (how traits are passed down), and nutrition. This program is now part of Pace University.
• In the 1940s, Luigi Provasoli started a program on marine biology (the study of ocean life). This program ended when he retired in 1978.
• Since the 1950s, Haskins Laboratories has mostly focused on speech. They study how we speak and how our bodies make speech possible.

In 1970, the main lab moved to New Haven, Connecticut. There, it partnered with Yale University and the University of Connecticut. Today, Haskins Laboratories is still a leading lab. It does important work on how we speak and write, and its research is known worldwide.

Haskins was the President, Research Director, and Chairman of the Board for Haskins Laboratories from 1935 to 1987.

Helping the Country and Science

During World War II, Haskins used his science skills to help the war effort. He worked with important government groups like the Office of Scientific Research and Development. After the war, he advised leaders like the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State. He was also part of the President's Science Advisory Committee.

In 1956, he became the President of the Carnegie Institution of Washington. He held this important job until 1971.

Haskins also served as a Regent (a kind of board member) for the Smithsonian Institution from 1956 to 1980. He even led their Executive Committee for a few years. In 1980, the Smithsonian gave him the Henry Medal. This award recognized his many years of service and friendship to the institution.

He was very active with the National Geographic Society:

• He was a Trustee from 1964 to 1984.
• He was on the Finance Committee from 1972 to 1985.
• He joined the Committee on Research and Exploration in 1972.
• He was a member of the Society's Executive Committee from 1972 to 1984.

He was also a Director for E.I. du Pont de Nemours, a large company, from 1971 to 1981.

From 1967 to 1968, he was President of Sigma Xi, a science research honor society. He continued to be a Trustee for the Carnegie Institution and Haskins Laboratories until he passed away. He was also an honorary Trustee for the National Geographic Society.

Books by Caryl Parker Haskins

Caryl Parker Haskins wrote several books that shared his scientific ideas with the world:

• Of ants and men (1939) – This book was about his favorite subject, ants!
• Of Societies and Men (1951)
• The scientific revolution and world politics (1975)

He also wrote many scientific papers, including one with his wife, Edna F. Haskins, about the behavior of certain types of ants.