Vicki Ann Funk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vicki Funk
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Vicki Ann Funk
November 26, 1947 Owensboro, Kentucky, U.S.
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| Died | October 22, 2019 (aged 71) |
| Alma mater | B. S., Murray State University, Biology and History, 1969, M.S., Murray State University, Biology, 1975; PhD, Ohio State University, 1980 |
| Known for | Botanist and curator |
| Awards | 2001 Queensland Fellowship, awarded by the Government of Queensland, Australia
2002 President’s Award for Service, Society of Systematic Biologists 2006 National Museum of Natural History, Science Achievement Award 2009 National Museum of Natural History Science Achievement Award; Secretary's Award for Excellence in Collaboration 2010 International Association for Plant Taxonomy, Stebbins' Medal 2012 Smithsonian's Secretary's Award for Outstanding Publication 2014 Rolf Dahlgren Prize 2018 American Society of Plant Taxonomists, Asa Gray Lifetime Achievement Award |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | New York Botanical Garden, Smithsonian Institution, George Mason University, Duke University |
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| Author abbrev. (botany) | V.A.Funk |
Vicki Ann Funk (born November 26, 1947 – died October 22, 2019) was an American scientist. She was a botanist and researcher. She worked at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.
Dr. Funk was known for her important work on the composite plant family, called Asteraceae. This family includes plants like sunflowers and daisies. She collected plants from many parts of the world. She also studied how different plants are related to each other (phylogenetics) and how they spread across the Earth (biogeography).
Vicki Funk passed away on October 22, 2019, when she was 71 years old.
Contents
What is a Botanist?
A botanist is a scientist who studies plants. They learn about how plants grow, where they live, and how they are related. Botanists help us understand the natural world.
Vicki Funk's Research Focus
Vicki Funk was an expert in the Asteraceae family. This is one of the largest plant families. It has over 32,000 known types of plants. Her research helped scientists understand this huge group better.
She also focused on phylogenetics. This is the study of how different species have evolved over time. It shows their evolutionary relationships. She also studied biogeography. This looks at where plants and animals live and why they are found in certain places.
Her Career and Work
Vicki Funk had a long and successful career in science. She worked at several important institutions. These included the New York Botanical Garden and Duke University. Most of her career was spent at the Smithsonian Institution.
At the Smithsonian, she was a Senior Research Botanist and Curator. A curator is someone who manages a collection. In her case, it was a collection of plants. She helped organize and study millions of plant samples.
Education and Early Life
Vicki Funk was born in Owensboro, Kentucky. She loved learning from a young age. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from Murray State University. Later, she got her PhD from Ohio State University in 1980. Her studies focused on biology and plant systems.
Awards and Achievements
Throughout her career, Vicki Funk received many awards. These awards recognized her important contributions to science.
- 2001: Queensland Fellowship from the Government of Queensland, Australia.
- 2002: President’s Award for Service from the Society of Systematic Biologists.
- 2006: Science Achievement Award from the National Museum of Natural History.
- 2009: Another Science Achievement Award and an award for working well with others.
- 2010: Stebbins' Medal from the International Association for Plant Taxonomy.
- 2012: Smithsonian's Secretary's Award for Outstanding Publication.
- 2014: Rolf Dahlgren Prize.
- 2018: Asa Gray Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Plant Taxonomists. This award recognized her entire career's work.
Her work helped other scientists learn more about plants. It also helped protect plant diversity around the world.
See also
In Spanish: Victoria Ann Funk para niños
