Curator/Education Specialist
Smithsonian Institution
600 Maryland Avenue SW
Washington, District of Columbia 20013
Email: belanusb@si.edu
Phone: 202-633-6582

Visit Betty's Research Website

Research Disciplines:

• Conservation
• Cultural Anthropology
• Folklore

Research Interests:

American ginseng, plants and culture, people and plants, cultural history of Appalachia, plant conservation, ethnography of ecosystems

View Betty's CV

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Biographical Sketch

Ph.D. in Folklore from Indiana University, 1990.  Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage since 1987.  Proficient in ethnographic research, creation of educational materials and writing for the general public.  Currently working on the project, “American Ginseng: Local Knowledge, Global Roots” which is creating a web site, presentations and educational materials about the people who interact with, use and conserve this iconic forest medicinal.

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Education

• B.A. Smith College 1977
• M.A. Folklore, Indiana University, 1979
• Ph.D. Folklore with minors in educational media production and museum studies, 1990

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Other Research

Research, curation and execution of 10 Smithsonian Folklife Festival programs since 1988.

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