Prof. Michael Greenfield | Animal Communication | Lifetime achievement Award
Michael D. Greenfield is an acclaimed evolutionary and behavioral biologist š, renowned for pioneering research on animal communication, sexual selection, and sensory ecology š; his distinguished academic path spans UCLA, University of Kansas šŗšø, UniversitĆ© de Tours š«š·, and CNRS, shaping minds and advancing knowledge in evolutionary biology through fieldwork across continents šæ; naturalized French citizen š«š· and US native šŗšø, Dr. Greenfieldās global scientific contributions blend research, teaching, and leadership, inspiring generations in bioacoustics and evolutionary ecology šš¬.
Profile
Education š
Michael D. Greenfield earned his Ph.D. in 1978 from the University of WisconsināMadison š, focusing on evolutionary and behavioral biology, following a B.A. from New York University in 1973 šļø; his education laid the foundation for a lifelong exploration of animal communication, acoustic signaling š”, and sexual selection, fostering bilingual scientific excellence in both English and French šŗšøš«š·, with academic roots inspiring worldwide field research and collaborations in behavior, ecology, and evolutionary genetics šš¦.
Experience šØāš«
Dr. Greenfieldās career spans decades of teaching and research: UCLA Assistant-Professor (1981ā87) & Associate-Professor (1987ā93) š, Kansas Professor (1991ā2007) š¾, UniversitĆ© de Tours Professeur Classe Exceptionnelle (2005ā2018) š«š·, and CNRS researcher š¬; additionally, he held roles as NSF Program Director (2002ā2004) šļø, Entomology Chair at Kansas (1995ā1999) šŖ², and remains Adjunct Professor at KU and Professeur InvitĆ© in France, with vast international fieldwork in Costa Rica, France, Africa, and the U.S., enriching behavioral ecology globally šš§Ŗ.
Awards & Recognitions š
Michael D. Greenfieldās scientific excellence earned him Fellow status with the Animal Behavior Society in 2002 š, a Smithsonian Institution Fellowship (1978ā79) š, and memberships in Sigma Xi, Phi Beta Delta, and Gamma Sigma Delta šļø; he secured numerous NSF, EPA, and ANR grants for cutting-edge research on insect acoustic signals š¶, reproductive behavior š¦, and evolutionary ecology, highlighting his global influence through invited symposia, mentorship, and contributions to international ethology and neuroethology communities š§ š.
Research Interests š¬
Dr. Greenfieldās research probes the evolutionary genetics of sexual selection and animal signaling š§, especially acoustic and chemical communication in moths š¦, grasshoppers š¦, frogs šø, and fireflies āØ; he dissects mating systems, lekking behavior, bioluminescence, signal evolution, sensory ecology šæ, and alternative reproductive tactics, blending empirical fieldwork with experimental neuroethology š§ , creating insights into biodiversity, adaptation, and communication systems, and bridging entomology with broader evolutionary theory across global ecosystems šš.