Spencer Smith

he/him

  • Associate Professor of Physics
  • On Sabbatical 2024-2025
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

Mount Holyoke College held a panel discussion “Trans Health Care Is a Human Right: On Safeguarding Gender-Affirming Care After United States v. Skrmetti.” Speakers discussed the case and its impact on transgender and gender-diverse people.

Mount Holyoke College administrators tell the Daily Hampshire Gazette about the progress of the multiyear project to make the campus carbon neutral.

The Abbey Interfaith Sanctuary was reopened to the Mount Holyoke College community with a celebration. The sanctuary has undergone two years of revitalization and renovations that include new carpet, lighting and multimedia equipment.

Recent Publications

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

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