GEM "Critical Issues" International Seminar Series
Robert
Bye PhD
With interests in trees, useful plants, as well as hiking and camping, Robert Bye completed his undergraduate training at State University of New York College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry (ESF, then College of Forestry) at Syracuse University.
During that period he had the opportunity to work at ESF�s Cranberry Lake Forestry Summer Camp (now Biological Station) and Camp Colby Conservation Camp (of the New York State�s Department of Environmental Conservation), take summer courses at Flathead Lake Biological Station of the University of Montana, and coauthor the Flora of Onondaga County, New York.
Based upon these experiences he sought graduate training in ethnobotany as an academic basis for environmental conservation; he completed his Ph. D. in Biology from Harvard University where he had the opportunity to conduct research on archaeological, historical and contemporary plants associated with human activities in Southwestern USA, northern Mexico and western Amazonia. His research has focused on ethnobotany and taxonomy, particularly of plants in Mexico, among various indigenous and mestizo peoples in diverse tropical and temperate regions.
Recently funded research projects include: bioprospection and implementation of the Convention of Biological Diversity in Mexico; Mexican farmer participation in in situ conservation through the policultural �milpa� agricultural system (of maize, beans, squash and �quelites�); historical study of the early ethnobotanical studies of Dr. Edward Palmer; biodiversity and taxonomy of jimsonweeds and dahlias (Datura of the family Solanaceae, Dahlia of the family Asteraceae) among other taxa; history of the contribution of the Mexican flora to international horticulture; flora of the Sierra Tarahumara, Chihuahua, Mexico; establishment of quality control standards for Mexican medicinal plants.
Dr. Bye has published over 150 articles in scientific journals and books, 5 books on medicinal plants and Mexico biodiversity, and 1 CD-ROM on Mexican medicinal plants. In addition to being a member of various professional societies, he is a fellow of the Linnaean Society of London, a member of Mexico�s National Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mexico�s Academy of Gastronomy as well as the Mexican National System of Researchers.
After completing his Ph. D., he held a tenured professorship in biology at the University of Colorado at Boulder and later moved to the National Autonomous University of Mexico where he served as Head of the Food and Agriculture Hall of the Universum Science Museum and Director of the university�s botanical garden (the largest in Mexico and a major botanical institution in Latin America). After resigning from the directorship in 2004, he continues as Senior Research Professor in the university�s Institute of Biology. He is honorary research associate at University of Colorado Museum at Boulder, New York Botanical Garden, and Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History.
Robert Bye guiding a visiting group of Tarahumara Indians (from Chihuahua, Mexico, where he has conducted field work for over 30 years) in the Botanical Garden at the National University of Mexico, Mexico City. (2004)
Robert Bye studying one of the earliest European paintings (1657 AD) of Mexican domesticated medicinal, ceremonial and ornamental �angels trumpet� or �jimsonweed� (Datura metel) in Vienna. (2004)
Robert Bye collecting samples of medicinal and ceremonial �copal� tree (Bursera) in Puebla, Mexico. (1997)
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