BIOGRAPHY
Dr. R. Chris Williamson is an Assistant Professor of Entomology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he is an extension/research entomologist (70% extension/30% applied research) in urban landscape entomology including turfgrass (golf courses, lawns, athletic fields, and sod farms), ornamentals (nursery and landscape), Christmas trees, and greenhouses.
He received his B.S. degree in Agronomy (Turfgrass Science) from the Ohio State University in 1989, his M.S. degree in Entomology from The Ohio State University in 1993, and his Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Kentucky in 1998.
Dr. Williamson's lab is one of the most active applied research groups studying insect pests of the urban landscape. He and his students have published results generated from his lab in numerous scientific papers, book chapters, and trade journal articles. Dr. Williamson has given over 100 invited extension and research presentations combined to a variety of audiences regionally, nationally, and internationally.
The primary focus of his extension programming is in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) with emphasis on alternative, non-pesticide control strategies including cultural and applied plant resistance. Currently, Dr. Williamson has four principal extension programs:
- Integrated Turfgrass Management (ITM)
- Turfgrass Insect Pest Management
- Woody Ornamental Insect Pest Management
- Invasive Insect Species Education
Both his extension and research programs have been funded by the United States Golf Association (USGA), Wisconsin Turfgrass Association, United States Department of Agriculture, Wisconsin Department of Agricultureal Trade and Consumer Protection, Wiscsonsin Department of Natural Resources, University of Wisconsin Graduate School, and the Green Industry.
Although Dr. Williamson does not officially have a teaching appointment, he periodically teaches ENT 905, a one-credit graduate student seminar in applied entomology. Previous ENT 905 seminar series titles include Insecticide Toxicology and Career Opportunities in Entomology. Dr. Williamson also routinely guest lectures for ENT 351 (Principles of Economic Entomology), a practical, three-credit undergraduate course. Outside of the University of Wisconsin, Dr. Williamson is regularly invited to guest lecture for ENT 952A, a two-credit undergraduate course, as well as Turf 297C (Worldwide Campus, an on-line, two-credit undergraduate course) at Penn State University.
Dr. Williamson has received the Distinguished Achievement Award in Urban Entomology from the North Central Branch of the Entomological Society of America. He also is the recipient of the Outstanding Ph.D. Graduate Student Award of Merit from The Honor Society of Agriculture Gamma Sigma Delta.
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URL is http://entomology.wisc.edu/~rcwillie/biography/index.html. Page last updated
May 16, 2006
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