Biography
Homer William Smith (January 2, 1895 – March 25, 1962) was an American physiologist and science writer known for his experiments on the kidney and philosophical writings on natural history and the theory of evolution . [ 1 ] Smith was born on January 2, 1895, in Denver , and three years later, his family moved to Cripple Creek, Colorado , which was included in both the Cripple Creek miners' strike of 1894 and the Colorado Labor Wars of 1903–04. He had a stutter from about the age of five, to which he attributes his introspectiveness. [ 2 ] Smith's mother died by the time he was seven; he had five older siblings at the time, the oldest of which was 26. [ 3 ] Smith describes his father as "of the generation that had one foot still planted in religious tradition, the other planted in irreligious rationalism . ... For his mixed sentiment and skepticism my father paid off his conscience by generous hospitality, and any minister of any gospel was welcome at his table." [ 4 ] At the age of eleven, while Smith had the measles , his father built him a shed in which he could conduct scientific experiments; [ 5 ] these involved chemistry and microbiology , as well as the use of a vacuum pump , telegraph , static machine , X-ray tube , and Tesla coil . [ 6 ] He also dissected cats, which fueled his interest for biology and diminished his faith in anthropocentrism . [ 7 ] As a result of the apathy he felt following the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912, he set out on a philosophical quest of reading and writing with a renewed focus towards scholarship. [ 8 ] Fields: Physiologist, science writer Education: Johns Hopkins University
About the Lasker Award
The Lasker Awards have been awarded annually since 1946 to living persons who have made major contributions to medical science or who have performed public service on behalf of medicine. They are administered by the Lasker Foundation, founded by advertising pioneer Albert Lasker and his wife Mary Woodard Lasker (a medical research activist). The awards are sometimes referred to as "America's Nobels."
Quick Facts
- Award: Lasker Award - Basic Medical Research
- Added: 2026-02-07
- Source: Wikipedia
- Established: 1946
- Presented by: Lasker Foundation