Role Models in Science & Engineering Achievement: David Close

PLEASE SHARE IF YOU ARE INSPIRED BY THIS STORY!

(Let Us Know Your Comments! Tell us what you think about this story, particularly how David is working to study and save vital fish populations for Native Americans!)

Since his teenage years, Native American scientist David Close, (a member of the Cayuse Nation tribe of the Pacific Northwest), has been intrigued by fish and their importance as a foodstock for Native tribes. Originally, he had no idea of becoming a scientist since he felt contented as a youth just to work in community fisheries along the rivers of his Native community.  But the more he worked in such environments, he recalls, "I got the impression that I could become a biologist."

Why He's Important:  While pursuing fisheries science research at the University of British Columbia in Victoria, Canada,  David received international attention two years ago when he discovered a stress hormone in the Pacific lamprey (an eel-like fish) that may help in the conservation of this species whose population has seriously declined. The lamprey, one of the oldest living vertebrates, dates back 500 million years, and the Pacific Lamprey in particular is culturally important to the Native tribes of the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest. David's identification of the lamprey stress hormone, scientists believe, may also provide insight into the evolutionary development of stress hormones in humans and other vertebrates. While other cultures have historically viewed lampreys as an aquatic pest, tribes on the Columbia River value the fish not only for food but also for its medicinal attributes and its importance to aquatic ecology.

Current Activities:  David is Distinguished Science Professor of Aboriginal Fisheries at the University of British Columbia in Victoria, Canada, and a professor in the university's Department of Zoology. In addition, he directs the Aboriginal Fisheries Research Unit at the university.

Education: He received his Ph.D. in Fisheries and Wildlife from Michigan State University; his Master's of Science in Fisheries Science from Oregon State University, and his Bachelor's of Science in Fishery Resources from the University of Idaho.

In His Own Words: "I initially thought having a bachelor's degree would be sufficient, but then I realized that if I was to contribute in a more meaningful way to my field, I would need more education, and I knew I needed to go to the best places to get it."

More like this

Hagfish are gaining popularity in Korea by the minute! Caravalho Fisheries is now trying to develop a live market for the "primitive and somewhat disgusting eel-like creatures". About 5,000 pounds of hagfish, peacefully coiled at the bottom of their tank, were shipped to Seoul, where they should…
I was raised on Costco farmed salmon, those mealy slabs of pinkish fish protein. My first bite of wild salmon was a revelation. It was a different species of taste, so rich and oily and strong. You could practically taste the swim upstream. So I was interested in this WSJ article on the billions of…
"Even though he is a world-renowned scientist -- including being the recipient of the prestigious National Medal of Science (the highest honor that the U.S. can bestow upon a researcher) -- Shu Chien is also known for mentoring a generation of high school, undergraduate and graduate students…
Reconstruction of Priscomyzon in dorsal (top) and left lateral (bottom) views. b, Macropthalmia stage of Lampetra showing anterior location of orbit and smaller oral disc, both positioned in front of the branchial region. The total length of the specimen is 116 mm. Drawings in a and b are scaled to…