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Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Scott Miller

Curator of Lepidoptera
Department / Division
Entomology
Education
  • BS California at Santa Barbara 
  • PhD Harvard
Research Interests

Systematics of Lepidoptera (moths); biogeography of Pacific Basin, New Guinea, and Africa; plant-insect community ecology.

Scott Miller has managed research and collections programs in major institutions for over 20 years. At the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, he has served as Chairman of the Department of Entomology and Chairman of the Department of Systematic Biology, with oversight of a combined staff over 300 federal employees with an annual budget of over $20 million.

His previous experience includes 12 years at the Bishop Museum (Hawaii) managing its programs in biology and geology, with heavy involvement in public programs and development. He spent two years in Kenya initiating a biodiversity and conservation program at an international agriculture research institute (the International Centre of Insect Ecology and Physiology).

In addition to managing and fundraising for research, collections, and public outreach, all these positions have included significant infrastructure renovation, management of field stations, and implementation of information management systems.

He also serves on the Committee on Research and Exploration of the National Geographic Society, as well as the boards of several scientific societies.

He is committed to applying biodiversity information from museums and similar research institutions to sustainable development, has participated in major reviews of biodiversity related to conservation planning, and catalyzed an Integrated Conservation Development Project in Kenya.

Miller is very interested in the "big picture" of tropical biology, and the role of biodiversity information in understanding and managing the related issues of tropical deforestation, climate change, invasive species, loss of biological diversity, and the resultant biological, economic, and political consequences. He has also been heavily involved in education, including initiating an NSF-funded minority high school intern program at Bishop Museum, training programs for international professionals, parataxonomist programs in developing countries, and mentoring graduate students.

Miller has had continuous NSF funding since 1986, and maintains an active and personal research program. He has published over 145 research publications in systematics, biogeography, and ecology, and co-edited the books Papua New Guinea Biological Diversity Country Study;The origin and evolution of Pacific island biotas, New Guinea to Eastern Polynesia: Patterns and processes; and Arthropods of tropical forests: Spatio-temporal dynamics and resource use in the canopy.

Scott Miller is also Senior Program Officer in the Office of the Under Secretary for Science at the Smithsonian Institution.

Publications
Article

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Chapter
  • Bechtol, Nancy and Miller, Scott E. 2015. "Foreword." in Proceedings of the Smithsonian Institution Summit on the Museum Preservation Environment, edited by Stauderman, Sarah and Tompkins, William G., vii– ix. Proceedings and Other Publications (A Smithsonian Contribution to Knowledge). Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press.
  • Miller, Scott E. 2014. "DNA barcoding in floral and faunal research." in Descriptive taxonomy: The foundation of biodiversity research, Watson, M. F.;Lyal, C.; Pendry, C. ed. 296– 311. Systematics Association Special Volume. Cambridge University Press.
  • Novotny, Vojtech, Weiblen, George D., Miller, Scott E., and Basset, Yves. 2012. "The role of paraecologists in Twenty-first-century tropical forest research." in Methods in forest canopy research, edited by Lowman, Margaret D., Schowalter, Timothy D., and Franklin, Jerry F., 154– 157. Berkeley: University of California Press.
  • Schindel, David E. and Miller, Scott E. 2010. "Provisional nomenclature: the on-ramp to taxonomic names." in Systema Naturae 250: the Linnaean ark, edited by Polaszek, Andrew., 109– 115. Taylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton, London & New York: CRC Press.
  • Miller, Scott E. 2007. "Insects of Papua." in The ecology of Papua, edited by Marshall, Andrew J. and Beehler, Bruce McP., 515– 531. Singapore: Periplus.
  • Becker, Vitor O. and Miller, Scott E. 2005. "Moths: Lepidoptera." in Island: Fact and theory in nature., edited by Lazell, J. D., 303– 309. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
  • Schindel, David E. and Miller, Scott E. 2005. "DNA barcoding and the Consortium for the Barcode of Life." in Success Stories in Implementation of the Programmes of Work on Dry and Sub-Humid Lands and the Global Taxonomy Initiative., 144– 146. Montreal: Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
  • Lwande, Wilber, Miller, Scott E., Rogo, Lucie M., Bagine, Richard K. N., and Mukonyi, K. W. 2004. "An integrated package for the conservation of the Kakamega Forest." in ICIPE Annual Scientific Report 2002-2003, edited by Ng'eny-Mengech, Annalee., 145– 151. Nairobi: ICIPE.
  • Basset, Yves, Hammond, Peter M., Barrios, Hector, Holloway, Jeremy D., and Miller, Scott E. 2003. "Vertical Stratification of Arthropod Assemblages." in Arthropods of Tropical Forests: Spatio-Temporal Dynamics and Resource Use in the Canopy, edited by Basset, Yves, Novotny, Vojtech, Miller, Scott E., and Kitching, Roger L., 17. Cambridge University Press.
  • Basset, Yves, Novotny, Vojtech, Miller, Scott E., and Kitching, Roger L. 2003. "Canopy entomology, an expanding field of natural science." in Arthropods of tropical forests: Spatio-temporal dynamics and resource use in the canopy, edited by Basset, Yves, Novotny, Vojtech, Miller, Scott E., and Kitching, Roger L., 4– 6. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Basset, Yves, Novotny, Vojtech, Miller, Scott E., and Kitching, Roger L. 2003. "Methodological Advances and Limitations in Canopy Entomology." in Arthropods of Tropical Forests: Spatio-Temporal Dynamics and Resource Use in the Canopy, edited by Basset, Yves, Novotny, Vojtech, Miller, Scott E., and Kitching, Roger L., 7. Cambridge University Press.
  • Basset, Yves, Novotny, Vojtech, Miller, Scott E., and Kitching, Roger L. 2003. "Preface." in Arthropods of Tropical Forests: Spatio-Temporal Dynamics and Resource Use in the Canopy, edited by Basset, Yves, Novotny, Vojtech, Miller, Scott E., and Kitching, Roger L., xv– xvi. Cambridge University Press.
  • Basset, Yves, Novotny, Vojtech, Miller, Scott E., and Kitching, Roger L. 2003. "Conclusion: Arthropods, canopies and interpretable patterns." in Arthropods of tropical forests: Spatio-temporal dynamics and resource use in the canopy, edited by Basset, Yves, Novotny, Vojtech, Miller, Scott E., and Kitching, Roger L., 394– 405. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Miller, Scott E. 2002. "Statement of Scott Miller, Chairman, Department of Systematic Biology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC." in Invasive species: Hearing before the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Committee on Agriculture, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventh Congress, second session, October 2, 2002, edited by United States.Congress.House.Committee on Agriculture.Subcommittee on Department Operations,Oversight,Nutrition,and Forestry., 12– 22. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office.
  • Miller, Scott E., Novotny, Vojtech, and Basset, Yves. 2002. "Case studies of arthropod diversity and distribution." in Foundations of tropical forest biology: Classic papers with commentaries, edited by Chazdon, Robin L. and Whitmore, T. C., 407– 413. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
  • Rogo, Lucie M., Lwande, Wilber, Chapya, Andrew, Herren, Hans R., and Miller, Scott E. 2001. "An integrated conservation initiative to conserve Kakamega forest and its biodiversity." in Tropical Ecosystems: Structure, Diversity and Human Welfare (Supplement). Proceedings of the International Conference of Tropical Ecosystems, edited by Ganeshaiah, K. N., Shaanker, R. Uma, and Bawa, K. S., 56– 60. Bangalore: ATREE.
  • Allison, Allen and Miller, Scott E. 2000. "Hawaii Biological Survey: Museum resources in support of conservation." in Nature and human society: The quest for a sustainable world. Proceedings of the 1997 forum on biodiversity, edited by Raven, Peter H. and Williams, Tania., 281– 290. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.
  • Basset, Yves, Novotny, Vojtech, and Miller, Scott E. 2000. "Studying host and microhabitat use by arthropods in tropical rain forest canopies: issues & perspectives [abstract]." in XXI International Congress of Entomology Abstracts, edited by Gazzoni, Decio Luiz., 902. Londrina, Brasil: Embrapa Soja.
  • Miller, Scott E. 2000. "Biodiversity studies at Mpala Research Centre: Inventory of moths (Lepidoptera)." in 1998-1999 ICIPE Annual Scientific Report, edited by Ng'eny-Mengech, A., 166– 167. Nairobi: International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology.
  • Miller, Scott E. 2000. "African Arthropod Biodiversity: Gaining Knowledge for Utilisation and Conservation." in 1998-1999 ICIPE Annual Scientific Report, edited by Ng'eny-Mengech, A., 160– 180. Nairobi: International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology.
  • Miller, Scott E. 2000. "Keynote address: Taxonomy for understanding biodiversity - the strengths of the BioNet International model." in Proceedings of the Second BioNet-International Global Workshop (BIGW2), edited by Jones, Tecwyn and Gallagher, Simon., 13– 18. Egham, Surrey, England: BioNet International.
  • Miller, Scott E., Gemmell, Barbara, Herren, Hans R., Rogo, Lucie, and Allen, Melody. 2000. "Biodiversity of terrestrial invertebrates in tropical Africa: assessing the needs and plan of action." in Nature and human society: the quest for a sustainable world, edited by Raven, Peter H. and Williams, Tania., 204– 212. National Academy Press.
  • Weiblen, George D., Novotny, Vojtech, Basset, Yves, and Miller, Scott E. 2000. "Insect herbivores as predictors of plant phylogeny: examples from New Guinea Ficus [abstract]." in XXI International Congress of Entomology Abstracts, edited by Gazzoni, Decio Luiz., 144. Londrina, Brasil: Embrapa Soja.
  • Novotny, Vojtech, Basset, Yves, Samuelson, G. A., and Miller, Scott E. 1999. "Host use by chrysomelid beetles feeding on Moraceae and Euphorbiaceae in New Guinea." in Advances in Chrysomelidae Biology 1, edited by Cox, M. L., 343– 360. Leiden: Backhuys Publishers b.v.
  • Miller, Scott E. 1998. "Taxa group summary: Insects/terrestrial invertebrates." in The Irian Jaya Biodiversity Conservation Priority-Setting Workshop: Final Report, edited by Burnett, John Burke., 46– 47. Washington, D.C.: Conservation International.
  • Novotny, Vojtech, Basset, Yves, Miller, Scott E., Allison, Allen, Samuelson, G. Allan, and Orsak, Larry. 1998. "The diversity of tropical insect herbivores: An approach to collaborative international research in Papua New Guinea." in Taxonomy and Biodiversity in East Asia: Proceedings of International Conference on Taxonomy and Biodiversity Conservation in East Asia, edited by Lee, B. H., Choe, Jae Chun, and Han, H. Y., 112– 125. KIBIO Series 2. Chonju, Korea: Korean Biodiversity Council and Korean Institute for Biodiversity Research.
  • Allison, Allen, Samuelson, G. A., and Miller, Scott E. 1997. "Patterns of beetle species diversity in Castanopsis acuminatissima (Fagaceae) trees studied with canopy fogging in mid-montane New Guinea rainforest." in Canopy arthropods, edited by Stork, Nigel E., Adis, Joachim A., and Didham, R. K., 224– 236. London: Chapman & Hall.
  • Miller, Scott E., Nishida, Gordon M., and Evenhuis, Neal L. 1997. "Preface." in Insular evolution, speciation, and revision of the Hawaiian genus Nesiomiris (Hemiptera: Miridae), edited by Gagne, Wayne C., v– vi. Bishop Museum Bulletins in Entomology 7: x + 226.
  • Miller, Scott E. 1996. "Biogeography of Pacific insects and other terrestrial invertebrates: a status report." in The origin and evolution of Pacific Island biotas, New Guinea to eastern Polynesia: Patterns and processes, edited by Keast, Allen and Miller, Scott E., 463– 475. Amsterdam: SPB Academic Publishing bv.
  • Miller, Scott E. 1996. "A history of entomological exploration on Santa Rosa Island." in Island of the cowboys: Santa Rosa Island, edited by Allen, Kerry Blankenship., 193– 200. Santa Barbara, California: Santa Cruz Island Foundation.
  • Allison, Allen, Miller, Scott E., and Nishida, Gordon M. 1995. "Hawaii Biological Survey." in Our living resources: a report to the nation on the distribution, abundance and health of U. S. plants, animals, and ecosystems, edited by LaRoe, E. T. et al., 362. Washington, D. C.: National Biological Survey.
  • Gielis, Cees and Miller, Scott E. 1995. "Family Pterophoridae." in Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera. Checklist: Part 2, edited by Heppner, John B., 106– 109. Gainesville: Association for Tropical Lepidoptera.
  • Miller, Scott E. 1995. "Family Dalceridae." in Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera. Checklist: Part 2, edited by Heppner, John B., 127– 128. Gainesville: Association for Tropical Lepidoptera.
  • Allison, Allen, Miller, Scott E., and Nishida, Gordon M. 1994. "Hawaii Biological Survey: a model for the Pacific region." in Marine and Coastal Biodiversity in the Tropical Island Pacific Region. Volume 1. Species Systematics and Information Management Priorities, edited by Maragos, James E., 349– 355. Honolulu: East-West Center.
  • Miller, Scott E. 1994. "Biosystematic centres statements: Bishop Museum." in Proceedings of the First BioNET-INTERNATIONAL Consultation, London, June 1993, edited by Jones, T. and Cook, M. A., 31– 32. Wallingford: CAB International.
  • Miller, Scott E. 1994. "Insects of the California Channel Islands: Status of systematic and biogeographic knowledge." in The Fourth California Islands Symposium: Update on the status of resources. Abstracts, edited by Halvorson, W. L. and Maender, G. J., 24. Santa Barbara, California: Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.
  • Miller, Scott E. 1994. "Development of World Identification Services: Networking." in Identification and characterization of pest organisms, edited by Hawksworth, D. L., 69– 80. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.
  • Miller, Scott E. 1991. "Introduction to the symposium: Evolution in island archipelagos: The emerging picture." in The unity of evolutionary biology: Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress of Systematic and Evolutionary Biology, edited by Dudley, E. C., 265– 266. Portland, Oregon: Dioscorides Press.
  • Miller, Scott E. and Holloway, Jeremy D. 1991. "Priorities for conservation research in Papua New Guinea: Non-marine invertebrates." in Conservation and environment in Papua New Guinea: Establishing research priorities, edited by Pearl, Mary, Beehler, Bruce McP, Allison, Allen, and Taylor, Meg., 44– 58. Washington, D.C. and New York: Embassy of Papua New Guinea and Wildlife Conservation International.
  • Miller, Scott E. 1989. "Foreword." in Catalog of Diptera of the Australian and Oceanic Region, edited by Evenhuis, Neal L., 9. Honolulu: Bishop Museum Press.
  • Miller, Scott E. 1989. "Foreword." in Catalog of the Diptera of the Australasian and Oceanian Regions, edited by Evenhuis, N. L., 9. Bishop Museum Special Publication (86). Honolulu;Leiden: Bishop Museum Press;E.J. Brill.
  • Miller, Scott E. 1986. "Systematic Paleontology." in Holocene Vertebrate Fossils from Isla Floreana, Galápagos, 37– 38. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology (413). Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press.
  • Miller, Scott E. 1985. "The California Channel Islands--Past, present, and future: an entomological perspective." in Entomology of the California Channel Islands: Proceedings of the First Symposium, edited by Menke, Arnold S. and Miller, Douglass R., 3– 27. Santa Barbara: Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.
  • Miller, Scott E. and Miller, Pamela Mercer. 1985. "Beetles of Santa Barbara Island, California (Coleoptera)." in Entomology of the California Channel Islands: Proceedings of the First Symposium, edited by Menke, Arnold S. and Miller, Douglass R., 121– 136. Santa Barbara: Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.
  • Davis, Donald R. and Miller, Scott E. 1984. "Gracillariidae." in Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera. Checklist: Part 1, edited by Heppner, John B., 25– 27. The Hague: Dr. W. Junk Publishers.
  • Davis, Donald R. and Miller, Scott E. 1984. "Lyonetiidae." in Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera. Checklist: Part 1, edited by Heppner, John B., 25. The Hague: Dr. W. Junk Publishers.
  • Miller, Scott E. 1984. "Alucitidae." in Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera. Checklist: Part 1, edited by Heppner, John B., 54. The Hague: Dr. W. Junk Publishers.
  • Miller, Scott E. and Reynolds, Richard L. 1978. "Pleistocene dermestid beetle damage in Equus conversidens bones from caves in California and Mexico." in Southern California Academy of Sciences, Annual Meeting, May 5-6, 1978, Occidental College, Abstracts, 12. Los Angeles, California: Southern California Academy of Sciences.

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Book
  • Krupnik, Igor, Lang, Michael A., and Miller, Scott E. , eds. 2009. Smithsonian at the poles: contributions to International Polar Year science. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.097884601X.0
  • Chitwood, D. J., Diaz-Soltero, H., Hoberg, E. P., Miller, Scott E., Millsop, S., Reynolds, R., Rosenthal, B. M., Rossman, A. Y., Sitnik, M., and Solis, M. Alma. 2008. Protecting America's economy, environment, health, and security against invasive species requires a strong Federal program in Systematic Biology. Beltsville, Maryland: Systematic Subcommittee, Federal Interagency Committee on Invasive Terrestrial Animals and Pathogens (ITAP).
  • Basset, Yves, Kitching, Roger L., Miller, Scott E., and Novotny, Vojtech. , eds. 2003. Arthropods of Tropical Forests: Spatio-Temporal Dynamics and Resource Use in the Canopy. Cambridge University Press.
  • Kushlan, J. A., Steinkamp, M. J., Parsons, K. C., Capp, J., Cruz, M. A., Coulter, M., Davidson, Ian C., Dickson, L., Edelson, N., Elliot, R., Erwin, R. M., Hatch, S., Kress, S., Mildko, R., Miller, Scott E., Mills, K., Paul, R., Phillips, R., Siliva, J. E., Sydeman, B., Trapp, J., Wheeler, J., and Wohl, K. 2002. Waterbird conservation for the Americas: the North American waterbird conservation plan, Version 1. Washington, D.C.: Waterbird Conservation for the Americas.
  • Holloway, Jeremy D., Kibby, Geoffrey, Peggie, Djunijanti, Carter, David, and Miller, Scott E. 2001. The Families of Malesian Moths and Butterflies. Fauna Malesia Handbooks. Leiden: Brill Academic Publishers.
  • Lyons, Elizabeth E. and Miller, Scott E. 2000. Invasive Species in Eastern Africa: Proceedings of a Workshop Held at ICIPE, July 5-6, 1999.
  • Evenhuis, Neal L. and Miller, Scott E. , eds. 1998. Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey for 1997.
  • Miller, Scott E., Ubaidillah, Rosichon, Peggie, Djunijanti, Yaku, Alexander, Polhemus, Dan A., and Polhemus, John T. 1998. Insects of the PT Freeport Indonesia contract of work mining and project area, Irian Jaya, Indonesia. Jakarta: P.T. Freeport Indonesia.
  • Evenhuis, Neal L. and Miller, Scott E. , eds. 1997. Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey for 1996.
  • Sekhran, Nikhil and Miller, Scott E. , eds. 1996. Papua New Guinea Country Study on Biological Diversity. Waigani, Papua New Guinea: Papua New Guinea Department of Environment and Conservation.
  • Evenhuis, Neal L. and Miller, Scott E. , eds. 1996. Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey for 1995. Part 1: Articles.
  • Keast, Allen and Miller, Scott E. , eds. 1996. The origin and evolution of Pacific Island biotas, New Guinea to eastern Polynesia: Patterns and processes. Amsterdam: SPB Academic Publishing bv.
  • Evenhuis, Neal L. and Miller, Scott E. , eds. 1996. Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey for 1995. Part 2: Notes.

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Report
  • Consortium for the Barcode of Life, National Biotechnology Development Agency, and Miller, Scott E. 2008. [Report] The Western and Central Africa DNA Barcoding meeting, 23-25 October 2008, Hilton Transcorp, Abuja, Nigeria.
  • Smith, Gideon F., Schindel, David, Smith, Richard, Miller, Scott E., Consortium for the Barcode of Life, SANBI, BioNET-INTERNATIONAL, and SAFRINET. 2006. [Report] Priority-driven Barcoding of Life for Southern Africa, and beyond: Report of a Southern Africa Regional DNA Barcode Meeting, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Cape Town, South Africa.
  • Moritz, Tom, Hrusa, G., Schoenig, Steve, Arriaga, Laura, Neville, Laurie, Oyieki, Helida, Reaser, Jamie, Lyons, Elizabeth, Eardley, Connal, Miller, Scott E., Steves, Brian, diPietro, Deanne, Meese, Robert, Quinn, James, Willett, Karen, Redlin, Scott, Peterson, Scott, Bauldock, Barbara, Fisher, Gary, Fornwall, Mark, Fuller, Pamela, Gaines, Jennifer, Grosse, Andrea, Gregg, William, Preacher, James et al. 2001. [Report] Davis Declaration. https://repository.si.edu/handle/10088/35918.
  • Kuznetsov, V. I. and Stekol'nikov, A. A. 1988. [Report] Functional morphology of the male genitalia and the phylogenetic relationships of some primitive superfamilies of the infraorder Papilionomorpha (Lepidoptera: Sesioidea, Cossoidea, Zygaenoidea) of the Asiatic part of the U. S. S. R..
Abstract
  • Miller, Scott E. 2000. "Challenges and opportunities in understanding and utilizing African insect diversity."
  • Miller, Scott E. 1996. "Advances in the phylogenetic study of the Zygaenoidea."
  • Miller, Scott E. 1980. "Fossil Coleoptera from Late Pleistocene asphalt deposits of Southern California."
  • Miller, Scott E. 1979. "Butterflies of the California Islands: A progress report." 40.
  • Miller, Scott E. 1979. "Pleistocene insects of the Rancho La Brea and other California asphalt deposits."