Edward F. Knipling

Edward F. Knipling
Born	March 20, 1909 Victoria, Texas,U.S.
Died	March 17, 2000 (aged 90) Arlington, Virginia,U.S.
Alma mater	Texas A&M University Iowa State University
Awards	President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service(1971) National Medal of Science Japan Prize
Scientific career
Fields	Entomology

Edward Fred Knipling(March 20, 1909 – March 17, 2000)was an Americanentomologist,who along with his longtime colleagueRaymond C. Bushland,received the 1992World Food Prizefor their collaborative achievements in developing thesterile insect techniquefor eradicating or suppressing the threat posed by pests to the livestock and crops that contribute to the world's food supply. Knipling's contributions included the parasitoid augmentation technique, insect control methods involving the medication of the hosts, and various models of total insect population management. Knipling was best known as the inventor of the sterile insect technique (SIT), an autocidal theory of total insect population management. TheNew York Times Magazineproclaimed on January 11, 1970, that "Knipling...has been credited by some scientists as having come up with 'the single most original thought in the 20th century.'"

Education and early career

Knipling was born on March 20, 1909, inVictoria, Texas.As a youth raising cattle with his father, he saw firsthand the devastation that thescrewwormfly and other pests wreaked on cattle herds and cotton crops. Following graduation fromTexas A&M Universityand graduate studies atIowa State University,Knipling began researching the screwworm fly in 1931 as aU.S. Department of Agricultureentomologist in Texas, where he met Bushland. Together, the men theorized about possibly breaking the pest's lifecycle by inducing genetic defects, but their research was temporarily suspended by the outbreak of World War II.

Achievements during World War II

During the war, Knipling's research was diverted to support U.S. Army efforts to repel and control insects that threatened Allied troops with diseases includingtyphusandmalaria.Credited with leading the USDA team that developedDDTas an effective control of body lice and weapon against typhus, Knipling won the 1947 U.S. Medal of Merit and the 1948 King's Medal for Service from the United Kingdom for these achievements.

Development of SIT

After the war, Knipling received a Ph.D. in entomology fromIowa State Universityand moved to Washington, D.C., to lead USDA entomology research. In this capacity, he continued working with Bushland to complete the development ofSITin the early 1950s. Knipling remained at the USDA until 1973, eventually serving as the top entomological researcher in theAgricultural Research Service.For 27 years thereafter, he remained active as a USDA consultant and collaborator, contributing significantly to new principles of pest insect management.

Knipling died on March 17, 2000, in Arlington, Virginia, where his wife of 66 years, Phoebe Hall Knipling, and he had raised their five children and were active members of the community.Phoebe was also a biological scientist and educator. One of his sons,Edward B. Knipling,served as administrator of the USDA Agricultural Research Service from 2004to 2014.

Awards and recognition

Knipling published over 225 articles in his career, was inducted into theNational Academy of Sciences,received the 1966National Medal of Scienceand the 1995Japan Prizefor his novel approaches to pest control,and was listed inLifemagazineas one of the "100 Most Important People in the World" in 1970. Knipling was posthumously awarded theGolden Goose Awardin 2016.

Since 1999, the Knipling-Bushland Southwest Animal Research Foundation at Texas A&M has supported research and education in the area where food producers around the world continue to feel his influence today.

External links

• "The Life and Vision of Edward F. Knipling Concerning the Eradication of the Screwworm",a talk given in 2002 by E.F. Knipling's son, administrator of theUSDAAgricultural Research Service
• Edward Fred Knipling Papers: Screwworm Eradication Program Records,Knipling's personal papers dating from 1906 to 2003 held in the USDANational Agricultural Library