Lee Ann Newsom facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lee Ann Newsom
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|---|---|
| Alma mater | University of Florida |
| Awards | MacArthur Fellowship |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Anthropologist |
| Institutions | Pennsylvania State University |
Lee Ann Newsom is a smart scientist who studies old plants! She is a professor at Pennsylvania State University. She has written many books and articles about her discoveries. In 2002, she won a special award called the MacArthur Fellowship because of her amazing work.
Contents
Her School Journey
Lee Ann Newsom studied anthropology at the University of Florida. She earned all of her degrees there.
- She got her first degree (Bachelor's) in 1982.
- Then, she earned her Master's degree in 1986.
- Finally, she received her highest degree, a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), in 1993.
What She Does: Studying Ancient Plants
Lee Ann Newsom is like a detective for ancient plants. She looks at very old plant pieces and wood. Her work helps us learn about plants from long, long ago. She has found new ways to figure out what kinds of plants and trees existed in the past.
Discovering Old Secrets
Her research has created a huge collection of information. This information is super helpful for other scientists. It helps them understand how plants and people lived together in ancient times. Her discoveries are important for people who study history and the environment too.
A Big Award for Her Work
In 2002, Lee Ann Newsom received a very special award. It was the MacArthur Foundation fellowship. This award is given to people who do amazing and groundbreaking research. It also came with $500,000 to help her continue her studies.
Newsom said she wanted to use some of the money for DNA analysis. This would help her compare old plant remains from the U.S. and Mexico. She also planned to buy new microscopes for her students. The money helped her start new projects that she couldn't fund before.
Finding the Earliest Corn
In 2018, Newsom's work led to an exciting discovery. She helped identify the oldest corn ever found in the Caribbean. This ancient corn dated back to between 1200 and 1300 AD. This finding tells us more about what people ate and grew centuries ago.
Books She Has Written
Lee Ann Newsom has written several important books about her research.
- On Land and Sea (published in 2004)
- Case Studies in Environmental Archaeology (Interdisciplinary Contributions to Archaeology) (published in 1996)
