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

Faculty on the leading edge of change

Mount Holyoke College held its annual Faculty Awards Ceremony and celebrated five faculty members for their research, teaching and service.

Teaching meta-ethics to students in Ukraine

James Harold, Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Philosophy at Mount Holyoke College, has been teaching philosophy to students in war-torn Ukraine.

Vice President Kassandra Jolley wins a CASE award

Jolley, the vice president for college relations at Mount Holyoke College, was recognized with an Individual Achievement Award in the Distinguished Service category.

Recent Publications

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

View More