Douglas H. Bennett

MA 2001, English-Creative Writing; MS 2001, Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies
Charleston, S.C.

Douglas Bennett, program officer and study director with the National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences, has at age 32 established himself as an outstanding young alumnus. He has combined his dual areas of expertise in technology and creative writing to affect the technology policy of the U.S. government. When he authored the first fictional short story ever published by the National Academy of Sciences, he broke new ground in effective communication. Additionally, the Department of Commerce published his short story about how technology can revolutionize education in the next 20 years.

Under Bennett’s direction, the Committee on Precursor Measurements Necessary to Support Human Operations on the Surface of Mars discovered that hexavalent chromium (a heavy, toxic metal popularized in the movie Erin Brockovich) might be a serious threat to humans operating on the surface of Mars. NASA was not aware of this potential danger, and the finding will require that the government conduct additional research.

Bennett is an active community member, with a particular interest in protecting the environment. He is the founder of the Johns Island Protection Coalition in Charleston, S.C.

Bennett is an annual member of the ISU Alumni Association.