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

Fighting food insecurity in memory of her grandmother

Mount Holyoke College student Oluwafadeyemi Testimony Akinkuolie-Ibidapo ’27 is an awardee of this year’s Project for Peace grants from Middlebury College. She will launch a year-round food pantry in her hometown.

Understanding science in English and Spanish

Cerebro 101 is an initiative led by Mount Holyoke College faculty Marta Sabariego and Nieves Romero-Díaz that teaches dual-language elementary students about neuroscience and behavior.

Beverly Guy Sheftall named Mount Holyoke’s Commencement speaker

Trailblazing Black feminist scholar Beverly Guy Sheftall will be the primary speaker at the Mount Holyoke College Commencement. Two extraordinary Mount Holyoke alums, Leslie Anne Miller ’73 and Maria Z. Mossaides ’73, will also be honored.

Recent Publications

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

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