Spencer Smith

he/him

  • Associate Professor of Physics
  • Chair of Physics & Astronomy
Spencer Smith, Faculty

Spencer Smith's work seeks to characterize the complexity inherent in chaotic fluid motion by uncovering dynamically relevant and topologically robust fluid structures. He investigates how these ideas are pertinent from micro-fluidic chips at the small scale to pollution tracking and prediction in oceanic flows on a much larger scale and touch on some of the deep questions in fluid dynamics, such as the nature of turbulence.

Spencer is also very interested in the intersection of art and physics, and he curated a show at the MHC Art Museum in fall 2017 on the science photographs of Berenice Abbott. 

Areas of Expertise

physics (fluid dynamics); math (dynamic systems theory & topology); computer science (finite elements, data structures, algorithm development, and numerical methods)

Education

  • Ph.D., M.S., Tufts University
  • B.A., Dartmouth College

Happening at Mount Holyoke

Recent Campus News

Spectra has a new student chapter on campus

Spectra, a nationwide organization of LGBTQ mathematicians, has a student chapter at Mount Holyoke College.

MHC faculty named an AI education fellow

Mount Holyoke College Assistant Professor of Computer Science Diane Uwacu is a member of the inaugural cohort of NSF NAIRR AI Education Fellows of the Computing Research Association.

Mount Holyoke College faculty discusses Cesar Chavez news

Mount Holyoke College Associate Professor of Latina/o Studies and Critical Race and Political Economy David Hernández spoke to KNX News about the recent investigation into the accusations of sexual assault against labor leader Cesar Chavez.

Recent Publications

Smith, S.A., Gong, R. (2022). Braiding dynamics in active nematics. Frontiers in Physics, 10.

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