- Maynard Smith redirects here -- for other uses see Maynard Smith (disambiguation)
| John Maynard Smith | |
 John Maynard Smith
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| Born | 6 January 1920 London, England |
|---|---|
| Died | 19 April 2004 (aged 84) Lewes, East Sussex, England |
| Nationality |  English |
| Fields | Evolutionary biologist and geneticist |
| Institutions | University of Sussex |
| Alma mater | University of Cambridge and UCL |
| Doctoral advisor | J.B.S. Haldane |
| Doctoral students | Andrew Pomiankowski Sean Nee |
| Known for | Game theory Evolution of sex Signalling theory |
| Notable awards | Copley Medal (1999) Kyoto Prize (2001) |
Professor John Maynard Smith,[1] F.R.S. (6 January 1920 – 19 April 2004) was a British theoretical evolutionary biologist and geneticist. Events 1066 - Harold Godwinson is crowned King of England. 1205 - Philip of Swabia becomes King Year 1920 ( MCMXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display 1920 of the Gregorian calendar London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Events 1012 - Martyrdom of Alphege in Greenwich London. 1529 - At the Second Diet of Speyer "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Lewes (ˈluːɨs Lewis) is the County town of East Sussex, England and gives its name to the Local government district in which it East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Evolutionary biology is a sub-field of Biology concerned with the origin of Species from a Common descent, and Descent of species A geneticist is a scientist who studies Genetics, the science of Heredity and variation of Organisms A geneticist can be employed as a researcher The University of Sussex is a British Campus university which is situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, and is from Brighton Alma mater is Latin for "nourishing mother" It was used in Ancient Rome as a title for the mother Goddess, and in Medieval The University of Cambridge (often Cambridge University) located in Cambridge, England, is the second-oldest university in the University College London ( UCL) is a multi-faculty university institution based in the United Kingdom and a constituent college of the University of London A doctorate is an Academic degree that indicates the highest level of academic achievement John Burdon Sanderson Haldane FRS ( 5 November 1892 &ndash 1 December 1964) known as Jack (but who used 'J Game theory is a branch of Applied mathematics that is used in the Social sciences (most notably Economics) Biology, Engineering, Within Evolutionary biology, signalling theory refers to a body of theoretical work examining communication between individuals The Copley Medal is a scientific award for distinguished achievement in any field of Science established by the Royal Society of London in 1731 The Kyoto Prize (京都賞 has been awarded annually since 1984 by the Inamori Foundation, founded by Kazuo Inamori. The Royal Society of London for the Improvement of Natural Knowledge, known simply as The Royal Society, is a Learned society for science that was founded in 1660 Events 1066 - Harold Godwinson is crowned King of England. 1205 - Philip of Swabia becomes King Year 1920 ( MCMXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display 1920 of the Gregorian calendar Events 1012 - Martyrdom of Alphege in Greenwich London. 1529 - At the Second Diet of Speyer "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Evolutionary biology is a sub-field of Biology concerned with the origin of Species from a Common descent, and Descent of species A geneticist is a scientist who studies Genetics, the science of Heredity and variation of Organisms A geneticist can be employed as a researcher Originally an aeronautical engineer during the Second World War, he then took a second degree in genetics under the well-known biologist J.B.S. Haldane. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including John Burdon Sanderson Haldane FRS ( 5 November 1892 &ndash 1 December 1964) known as Jack (but who used 'J Maynard Smith was instrumental in the application of game theory to evolution and theorized on other problems such as the evolution of sex and signalling theory. Game theory is a branch of Applied mathematics that is used in the Social sciences (most notably Economics) Biology, Engineering, Within Evolutionary biology, signalling theory refers to a body of theoretical work examining communication between individuals
Contents |
Biography
Early years
John Maynard Smith was born in London, the son of a surgeon, but following his father's death in 1928 the family moved to Exmoor, where he became interested in natural history. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Exmoor is a National Park situated on the Bristol Channel coast of south west England Natural history is the Scientific research of Plants or Animals leaning more towards the Observational than Experimental methods Quite unhappy with the lack of formal science education at Eton College, Maynard Smith took it upon himself to develop an interest in Darwinian evolutionary theory and mathematics, after having read the work of old Etonian J.B.S. Haldane, whose books were in the school's library despite the bad reputation Haldane had at Eton for his communism. Eton College, or just Eton, is a world-famous British Independent school for boys founded in 1440 by King Henry VI. Darwinism is a term used for various different movements or concepts related to a greater or lesser extent to Charles Darwin 's work on Evolution. Mathematics is the body of Knowledge and Academic discipline that studies such concepts as Quantity, Structure, Space and John Burdon Sanderson Haldane FRS ( 5 November 1892 &ndash 1 December 1964) known as Jack (but who used 'J Communism is a Socioeconomic structure that promotes the establishment of an egalitarian, classless, stateless Society based
On leaving school, Maynard Smith joined the Communist Party of Great Britain and started studying engineering at Trinity College Cambridge. The Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB was the largest Communist party in the United Kingdom, though it never became a mass party like the Communist parties of Engineering is the Discipline and Profession of applying technical and scientific Knowledge and Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. The University of Cambridge (often Cambridge University) located in Cambridge, England, is the second-oldest university in the When the second world war broke out in 1939, he defied his party's line and volunteered for service. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. He was rejected, however, because of poor eyesight and was told to finish his engineering degree, which he did in 1941. In Psychology, visual perception is the ability to interpret information from Visible light reaching the Eyes The resulting Perception is also Bachelor of Engineering (commonly abbreviated as BE or BEng) is an Undergraduate Academic degree awarded to a student after three to five Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. He later quipped that "under the circumstances, my poor eyesight was a selective advantage — it stopped me getting shot". The year of his graduation, he married Sheila Matthew, and they were later to have two sons and one daughter (Tony, Carol, and Julian). Station House Opera is a British Performance art and Theatre company known internationally for its unique physical and visual style Between 1942 and 1947 he applied his degree to military aircraft design. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1947 ( MCMXLVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. A military aircraft is any fixed-wing or rotary-wing Aircraft that is in the current employ of a Military power
A second degree
Maynard Smith then took a change of career, entering University College London (UCL) to study fruit fly genetics under Haldane. University College London ( UCL) is a multi-faculty university institution based in the United Kingdom and a constituent college of the University of London Drosophila melanogaster (from the Greek for black-bellied dew-lover) is a two-winged insect that belongs to the Diptera, the order After graduating he became a lecturer in Zoology at UCL between 1952 and 1965, where he directed the Drosophila lab and conducted research on population genetics. Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. Drosophila is a Genus of small flies, belonging to the family Drosophilidae, whose members are often called "fruit flies" He published a popular Penguin book, The Theory of Evolution, in 1958 (with subsequent editions in 1966, 1975, 1993). The Theory of Evolution is a book by English evolutionary biologist and Geneticist John Maynard Smith, originally published in 1958
He became gradually more disillusioned with communism and became a less active member, finally leaving the Party in 1956 like many other intellectuals, after the Soviet Union brutally suppressed the Hungarian Revolution (Haldane had left the party in 1950 after becoming similarly disillusioned). Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 ( Hungarian: 1956-os forradalom) was a spontaneous nationwide Revolt against the Stalinist government of
At the University of Sussex
In 1962 he was one of the founding members of the University of Sussex and was a Dean between 1965-85. The University of Sussex is a British Campus university which is situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, and is from Brighton He subsequently became a professor emeritus. The meaning of the word professor ( Latin: professor, person who professes to be an expert in some art or science teacher of highest rank) varies Prior to his death the building housing much of Life Sciences at Sussex was renamed the John Maynard Smith Building, in his honour.
Evolution and the Theory of Games
In 1973 Maynard Smith formalised a central concept in game theory called the evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS), based on a verbal argument by George R. Price. Game theory is a branch of Applied mathematics that is used in the Social sciences (most notably Economics) Biology, Engineering, In Game theory and Behavioural ecology, an evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS is a strategy which if adopted by a population of players George R Price (1922 – January 6, 1975) was an American population geneticist. This area of research culminated in his 1982 book Evolution and the Theory of Games. Evolution and the Theory of Games is a 1982 Book by the British evolutionary biologist John Maynard Smith on Evolutionary The Hawk-Dove game is arguably his single most influential game theoretical model. The game of Chicken, also known as the Hawk-Dove or Snowdrift game is an influential model of conflict for two players in Game theory.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1977. The Royal Society of London for the Improvement of Natural Knowledge, known simply as The Royal Society, is a Learned society for science that was founded in 1660 Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays In 1986 he was awarded its Darwin Medal. The Darwin Medal is given by the Royal Society every even year for "work of acknowledged distinction in the broad area of Biology in which Charles Darwin He also developed and recovered from colon cancer. Colorectal cancer, also called colon cancer or large bowel cancer, includes Cancerous growths in the colon, Rectum and
The evolution of sex and other major transitions in evolution
Maynard Smith published a book entitled The Evolution of Sex which explored in mathematical terms, the notion of the "two-fold cost of sex". During the late 1980s he also became interested in the other major evolutionary transitions with the biochemist Eörs Szathmáry. Eörs Szathmáry (born 1959 is a Hungarian theoretical evolutionary biologist at Collegium Budapest (Institute for Advanced Study and at the Department of Plant Taxonomy Together they wrote an influential 1995 book The Major Transitions in Evolution. The Major Transitions in Evolution is a book written by John Maynard Smith and Eörs Szathmáry ( Oxford University Press, 1995 A popular science version of the book, entitled The Origins of Life: From the birth of life to the origin of language was published in 1999.
In 1991 he was awarded the Balzan Prize of Italy. The International Balzan Prize Foundation awards four annual monetary prizes to people or organisations who have made outstanding achievements in the fields of humanities natural In 1995 he was awarded the Linnean Medal by The Linnean Society and in 1999 he was awarded the Crafoord Prize jointly with Ernst Mayr and George C. Williams. The Linnean Medal (formerly referred to as the Gold Medal) of the Linnean Society of London was established in 1888 and is awarded annually to alternately a botanist The Linnean Society of London is the World 's premier society for the study and dissemination of Taxonomy and natural history The annual Crafoord Prize is a science prize established in 1980 by Holger Crafoord, a Swedish industrialist and his wife Anna-Greta Crafoord Ernst Walter Mayr ( July 5, 1904, Kempten, Germany &ndash February 3, 2005, Bedford Massachusetts U Professor George Christopher Williams (b May 12 1926 is an American Evolutionary biologist. In 2001 he was awarded the Kyoto Prize. The Kyoto Prize (京都賞 has been awarded annually since 1984 by the Inamori Foundation, founded by Kazuo Inamori. In his honour, the European Society for Evolutionary Biology has an award for extraordinary young evolutionary biology researchers named The John Maynard Smith Prize. The European Society for Evolutionary Biology (ESEB was founded in 1987. The John Maynard Smith Prize is a prize given by the European Society for Evolutionary Biology on odd years to an outstanding young researcher
Animal Signals
His final book, Animal Signals, co-authored with David Harper was published in 2003 on signalling theory. Within Evolutionary biology, signalling theory refers to a body of theoretical work examining communication between individuals
He died — sitting in a high-backed chair and surrounded by books — at his home in Lewes, East Sussex on April 19, 2004, 122 years to the day after the death of Darwin. Lewes (ˈluːɨs Lewis) is the County town of East Sussex, England and gives its name to the Local government district in which it East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the Events 1012 - Martyrdom of Alphege in Greenwich London. 1529 - At the Second Diet of Speyer "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " At his funeral, one of his grandchildren said, " he was very smart. . . and a jolly nice person". He was survived by his wife Sheila and their children.
Tribute
- Darwin Medal (1986)
- Frink Medal (1990)
- Balzan Prize (1991)
- Linnean Medal (1995)
- Royal Medal (1997)
- Crafoord Prize (1999)
- Copley Medal (1999)
- Kyoto Prize (2001)
- Fellow, Royal Society (1977)
Maynard Smith has an Erdős number of four. The Darwin Medal is given by the Royal Society every even year for "work of acknowledged distinction in the broad area of Biology in which Charles Darwin The Frink Medal for British Zoologists is awarded by the Zoological Society of London "For significant and original contributions by a professional zoologist to the development The International Balzan Prize Foundation awards four annual monetary prizes to people or organisations who have made outstanding achievements in the fields of humanities natural The Linnean Medal (formerly referred to as the Gold Medal) of the Linnean Society of London was established in 1888 and is awarded annually to alternately a botanist The Royal Medals of the Royal Society of London, also as The Queen's Medals were established by King George IV. The annual Crafoord Prize is a science prize established in 1980 by Holger Crafoord, a Swedish industrialist and his wife Anna-Greta Crafoord The Copley Medal is a scientific award for distinguished achievement in any field of Science established by the Royal Society of London in 1731 The Kyoto Prize (京都賞 has been awarded annually since 1984 by the Inamori Foundation, founded by Kazuo Inamori. The Royal Society of London for the Improvement of Natural Knowledge, known simply as The Royal Society, is a Learned society for science that was founded in 1660 The Erdős number (ɛrdøːʃ honoring the late Hungarian mathematician Paul Erdős, is a way of describing the "collaborative distance" between a person
Bibliography
- Maynard Smith, J. (1958). The Theory of Evolution. The Theory of Evolution is a book by English evolutionary biologist and Geneticist John Maynard Smith, originally published in 1958 London, Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-020433-4
- 1993 edn ISBN 0-521-45128-0
- Maynard Smith, J. (1968) Mathematical Ideas in Biology. Cambridge University Press. ISBN
- Maynard Smith, J. (1972) On Evolution. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 0-85224-223-9
- Maynard Smith, J. (1974b) Models in Ecology. Cambridge University Press. ISBN
- Maynard Smith, J. (1978d) The Evolution of Sex. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-29302-2
- Maynard Smith, J. (ed. ) (1981d) Evolution Now. London, Macmillan. ISBN 0-7167-1426-4
- Maynard Smith, J. (1982d) Evolution and the Theory of Games. Evolution and the Theory of Games is a 1982 Book by the British evolutionary biologist John Maynard Smith on Evolutionary Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-28884-3
- Maynard Smith, J. (1986b) The Problems of Biology. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-289198-7
- Maynard Smith, J. (1988a) Did Darwin Get it Right?: Essays on Games, Sex and Evolution. London, Chapman & Hall. ISBN 0-412-03821-8
- Maynard Smith, J. (1989a) Evolutionary Genetics. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-850231-1
- Maynard Smith, J. and Szathmáry, E. Eörs Szathmáry (born 1959 is a Hungarian theoretical evolutionary biologist at Collegium Budapest (Institute for Advanced Study and at the Department of Plant Taxonomy (1997) The Major Transitions in Evolution. The Major Transitions in Evolution is a book written by John Maynard Smith and Eörs Szathmáry ( Oxford University Press, 1995 New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-850294-X
- Maynard Smith, J. and Szathmáry, E. Eörs Szathmáry (born 1959 is a Hungarian theoretical evolutionary biologist at Collegium Budapest (Institute for Advanced Study and at the Department of Plant Taxonomy (1999) The Origins of Life: From the Birth of Life to the Origin of Language. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-286209-X
- Maynard Smith, J. and Harper, D. (2003) Animal Signals. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-852685-7
Footnotes
External links
University of Sussex
- Press release announcing his death
- Tribute from his colleagues
- More tributes from colleagues
- List of publications
Other academia
- Freeview video 'The Origin of Life' A Royal Institution Discourse by the Vega Science Trust
- Freeview video 'Flight in Birds and Aeroplanes' A Masterclass by the Vega Science Trust
- John Maynard Smith Remembered - a series of (frequently amusing) recollections of John by his friends and colleagues.
- In conversation with John Maynard Smith FRS
- 2003 New Scientist interview
- Five short videos
- Video conversation with Robert Wright
- John Maynard Smith video at the Peoples Archive (interview by Richard Dawkins)
- http://meaningoflife.tv/video.php?speaker=maynard%20smith&topic=complete
Obituaries
- Guardian
- The Independent
- Telegraph
- The Times
- Corante
- Current Biology (pdf)
- Los Angeles Times
- New York Times
- DRAFT for Biology and Philosophy by Daniel Dennett
- Resonance [1]
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Smith, John Maynard |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Evolutionary biologist and geneticist |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 6 January 1920 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | London, England |
| DATE OF DEATH | 19 April 2004 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | Lewes, East Sussex, England |
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