Children Three Fields Endocrinology, Urology | Role Blogger Name Emily Willingham | |
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Institutions UCSF, Texas State University, St. Edward's University Thesis Embryonic exposure to low-dose pesticides : dose response and effects on growth in the hatching red-eared slider turtle (2001) Known for Scientific skepticism, work on endocrine disruptors Notable awards UT-Austin department of biological sciences professional development award, 1998 Alma mater University of Texas at Austin Books Thinking Person's Guide to Autism: What You Really Need to Know about Autism, from Autistics, Parents, and Professionals Institution University of California, San Francisco, Texas State University, St. Edward's University | ||
Nominations Shorty Award for Blogger | ||
Emily Jane Willingham (born 1968) is an American skeptical blogger and scientist known for her research into the red-eared slider turtle. She frequently blogs about autism, as well as genetically modified food controversies.
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She is the joint recipient with David Robert Grimes of the 2014 John Maddox Prize, awarded by science charity Sense About Science, for standing up for science in the face of personal attacks.
Willingham, along with co-author Tara Haelle have recently published The Informed Parent: a science-based resource for your child's first four years, which examines several child raising controversies.
Education
Willingham received her bachelor's degree in English in 1989 and her PhD in biology in 2001, both from the University of Texas at Austin. She completed her fellowship in pediatric urology at the University of California, San Francisco, from 2004 to 2006, where she studied under Laurence S. Baskin.
Blogging
Willingham formerly ran the blog "A Life Less Ordinary", which she started in 2007 and which published its last post on November 25, 2011. Willingham currently blogs for Forbes.com, where she states she writes about "the science they're selling you," which includes the disproven link between vaccines and autism, as well as the Seralini affair. She has also written three posts for Slate.com about, among other topics, what the motivation might have been for Adam Lanza to carry out the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting. Her view is that his Asperger's syndrome was not a contributing factor to him carrying out the shooting. In addition, she has contributed to Discover, where she has argued that the autism epidemic may, in fact, just be the result of diagnostic substitution and increased awareness of the disorder. She was called "one of the sharpest science writers in the blogosphere" by Steve Silberman.
Research
Willingham has published 44 scientific papers, and, according to Google Scholar, her h-index is 22. With regard to her research, Willingham has said that talking about it "has always carried a frisson of the risque," which is not surprising, given that it often has to do with hypospadias, a birth defect of the penis, and how they can be caused by synthetic chemical compounds, including vinclozolin. Originally, however, Willingham researched the effects of pesticides on the red-eared slider while studying for her PhD. She has also conducted research on endocrine disrupting chemicals such as atrazine with biologist Tyrone Hayes, a well-known advocate for banning atrazine.