About

E. Christine Davis is an Instructional Professor and the Director of the Biology Learning Assistants Program at the University of Florida. She holds a Ph.D. in Botany from Duke University, earned in 2005. Her research interests focus on botanical diversity, with a particular emphasis on the phylogenetics of liverworts (Marchantiophyta) and their fungal endophytes. Currently, her work centers on teaching and fostering appreciation and understanding of plant form, function, and systematics through classroom instruction, fieldwork, and engaging students in their daily lives. She is dedicated to enhancing botanical education and promoting a deeper understanding of plant biology.

Research topics

• Economics
• Business
• Agricultural economics
• International trade
• Medicine

Selected publications

• Prediction and characterization of heat-affected zone formation in tin-bismuth alloys due to nickel-aluminum multilayer foil reaction

  Journal of Applied Physics · 2015-06-26 · 7 citations

  articleOpen access

  Reactive multilayer foils have the potential to be used as local high intensity heat sources for a variety of applications. Most of the past research effort concerning these materials have focused on understanding the structure-property relationships of the foils that govern the energy released during a reaction. To improve the ability of researchers to more rapidly develop technologies based on reactive multilayer foils, a deeper and more predictive understanding of the relationship between the heat released from the foil and microstructural evolution in the neighboring materials is needed. This work describes the development of a numerical model for the purpose of predicting heat affected zone size in substrate materials. The model is experimentally validated using a commercially available Ni-Al multilayer foils and alloys from the Sn-Bi binary system. To accomplish this, phenomenological models for predicting the variation of physical properties (i.e., thermal conductivity, density, and heat capacity) with temperature and composition in the Sn-Bi system were utilized using literature data.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• HBCUs need better marketing

  Physics Today · 2010-09-01

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Quinton Williams’s Opinion piece about undergraduate physics programs at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs; Physics Today, June 2010, page 47) inspired me to write this response and challenge. I gathered from the piece that some, if not most, HBCU physics programs are having trouble attracting, training, and retaining qualified faculty and students. I believe the problem is one of marketing, coupled with the dwindling talent pool of potential students. Middle- and high-school teachers and counselors need to promote physics as a viable academic and career choice. If HBCUs want more physics students, they need to let middle and high schools in on the secret.When I attended secondary school, I was never informed about the opportunities or career choices available to students who pursued physics in college. The school’s guidance counselor promoted engineering and computer science. During my undergraduate years at an HBCU, I noticed that engineering scholarships, grants, and stipends heavily outnumbered similar funding options for physics majors. The college and its corporate and government sponsors invested heavily in the programs and recruitment efforts for engineering.It is well known that the talent pool of minority students ready to pursue physics as a college major is rather small. We cannot expect HBCUs to single-handedly solve that problem, but if they need more physics students, they need to help increase the talent pool. As an example, HBCUs can provide tutors and mentors to secondary-school students. Their faculty and physics majors need to be present at science fairs and actively participate—for example, by serving as judges. If HBCUs do not plant the seeds and fertilize the crops, they cannot expect a big harvest of applicants ready and eager to pursue a physics degree. In fact, all college and university physics departments, not just those in HBCUs, need to market their existence to teachers, counselors, and potential students at the secondary level.© 2010 American Institute of Physics.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Can One Size Fit All? An Analysis of CARICOM Agricultural Development Policy Formulation

  RePEc: Research Papers in Economics · 2009-06-01

  preprintSenior author

  Agriculture is an economically important sector for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) contributing to food security and rural development. This is partly evidenced by the convening of the June 2007 Agriculture Donor Conference and the ongoing online discussion on arresting the decline of the sector. In this context, the paper identifies some core issues pertaining to agricultural policy for CARICOM countries, among these being: the macroeconomic environment, land and agro-climatic characteristics, institutional and infrastructural frameworks and the characteristics of agricultural enterprises. The discussion traces the agricultural policy formulation process within CARICOM then briefly examines established economic theory pertaining to agricultural development. A fundamental issue stressed is that the economic agent makes production decisions in his or her self interest. A schematic illustrating policy, market, technical and related influences on the decision environment of the economic agent, is used to highlight perceived agricultural policy deficiencies within the context of CARICOM country characteristics pertinent to agricultural output. Evidence presented on the diverse cross country macroeconomic, meso-economic, agro-ecological, institutional and infrastructural environments leads to the conclusion that a differentiated policy paradigm is more appropriate for the countries of CARICOM than the ‘one size fit all’ policy that is currently being pursued.

  Publisher

• Can One Size Fit All? An Analysis of CARICOM Agricultural Development Policy Formulation

  AgEcon Search (University of Minnesota, USA) · 2009-01-01 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Agriculture is an economically important sector for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) contributing to food security and rural development. This is partly evidenced by the convening of the June 2007 Agriculture Donor Conference and the ongoing online discussion on arresting the decline of the sector. In this context, the paper identifies some core issues pertaining to agricultural policy for CARICOM countries, among these being: the macroeconomic environment, land and agro-climatic characteristics, institutional and infrastructural frameworks and the characteristics of agricultural enterprises. The discussion traces the agricultural policy formulation process within CARICOM then briefly examines established economic theory pertaining to agricultural development. A fundamental issue stressed is that the economic agent makes production decisions in his or her self interest. A schematic illustrating policy, market, technical and related influences on the decision environment of the economic agent, is used to highlight perceived agricultural policy deficiencies within the context of CARICOM country characteristics pertinent to agricultural output. Evidence presented on the diverse cross country macroeconomic, meso-economic, agro-ecological, institutional and infrastructural environments leads to the conclusion that a differentiated policy paradigm is more appropriate for the countries of CARICOM than the ‘one size fit all’ policy that is currently being pursued.

  PublisherDOI

• CARICOM’s COMPETITIVENESS WITHIN THE US IMPORT MARKET FOR SPECIALTY CROPS: A SHIFT-SHARE ANALYSIS

  AgEcon Search (University of Minnesota, USA) · 2007-01-01

  articleOpen access

  This paper is based on the premise that if CARICOM’s agricultural sector in general, and more specifically the export sub-sector, is to thrive in the rapidly changing trade environment there has to be a continuous systematic assessment of market opportunities and competitiveness status. Such an assessment however, requires a clear understanding of the multifaceted concept of competitiveness and its major determinants. This paper seeks to contribute to the regional discussion of competitiveness, through the exploration of the theoretical and empirical dimensions of the concept within the context of CARICOM’s export of specialty crops to the United States. The paper uses a methodology heavily based on the Module to Analyze the Growth of International Commerce (MAGIC) software program developed by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). This programming module uses a variation of the classical and modified shift share or constant market share (CMS) analyses. Findings suggest that CARICOM, over the period 1991-2004, has generally not been competitive in the US import market for fresh (non-processed) specialty crops. Only three crops (pepper, papaya, and coffee (not roasted) exhibited increased competitiveness. However, these crops held very low market shares and exhibited the highly transient nature of competitiveness. The challenge for the Region is how to effectively move these very low market shares to higher levels within the context of transient behavior and a fierce rivalry for the US import market. .

  PublisherDOI

• CARICOM’s COMPETITIVENESS WITHIN THE US IMPORT MARKET FOR SPECIALTY CROPS: A SHIFT-SHARE ANALYSIS

  RePEc: Research Papers in Economics · 2007-05-01

  preprintSenior author

  This paper is based on the premise that if CARICOM’s agricultural sector in general, and more specifically the export sub-sector, is to thrive in the rapidly changing trade environment there has to be a continuous systematic assessment of market opportunities and competitiveness status. Such an assessment however, requires a clear understanding of the multifaceted concept of competitiveness and its major determinants. This paper seeks to contribute to the regional discussion of competitiveness, through the exploration of the theoretical and empirical dimensions of the concept within the context of CARICOM’s export of specialty crops to the United States. The paper uses a methodology heavily based on the Module to Analyze the Growth of International Commerce (MAGIC) software program developed by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). This programming module uses a variation of the classical and modified shift share or constant market share (CMS) analyses. Findings suggest that CARICOM, over the period 1991-2004, has generally not been competitive in the US import market for fresh (non-processed) specialty crops. Only three crops (pepper, papaya, and coffee (not roasted) exhibited increased competitiveness. However, these crops held very low market shares and exhibited the highly transient nature of competitiveness. The challenge for the Region is how to effectively move these very low market shares to higher levels within the context of transient behavior and a fierce rivalry for the US import market. .

  Publisher

• TECHNICAL CHALLENGES FACING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A CARIBBEAN INVASIVE SPECIES STRATEGY PROPOSED CARIBBEAN INVASIVE SPECIES SURVEILLANCE AND INFORMATION PROGRAM

  AgEcon Search (University of Minnesota, USA) · 2006-01-01

  articleOpen access

  Agricultural and Food Policy, Research Methods/Statistical Methods

  PublisherDOI

• THE T-STAR SUPPORTED CARIBBEAN BASIN/FLORIDA INVASIVE SPECIES COORDINATING AND FACILITATING INITIATIVE

  AgEcon Search (University of Minnesota, USA) · 2005-01-01

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Alien invasive species (AIS), highly damaging in agriculture, urban areas, and natural terrestrial and marine ecosystems, are establishing at a rate greater than one per month in Florida, as well as elsewhere in the Greater Caribbean Region. These exotics strongly impede trade and development. The overarching purpose of the project is to greatly improve the effectiveness of safeguarding against AIS in the Greater Caribbean Basin that pose major threats to Florida. A long-term goal in the establishment of a regional safeguarding mechanism in which the U.S., together with other countries, would play an important role and which would give maximum protection to Florida. Specific objectives are to enable us (C. G. Davis, Project Director and W. Klassen, Co-Project Director) to: 1.) Assume a formal leadership role in coordinating Florida Agricultural Experiment Station - wider Caribbean Basin alien invasive species initiatives. 2.) Work proactively to arrive at consensus or near-consensus on priority alien invasive species research and outreach activities by networking with U.S. and wider Caribbean Basin institutions and agencies. This will require organization of collaborative Workshops, Seminars, and consultations, among other things. 3.) Provide leadership in efforts to leverage T-STAR funded alien invasive species projects to garner additional resources in support of these efforts. 4.) Monitor, evaluate, and report on progress and accomplishments with respect to Florida Agricultural Experiment Station - wider Caribbean Basin alien invasive species activities, and on progress towards the formation of a regional safeguarding mechanism. A Caribbean Basin/Florida alien invasive species Advisory Committee will be formed to assist in organizing workshops and symposia needed to further develop and implement a regional safeguarding strategy. Funds for these events will be leveraged from various sources.

  PublisherDOI

• United States Trade Flows for Selected Categories of Specialty Crops

  AgEcon Search (University of Minnesota, USA) · 2004-01-01

  articleOpen access

  Nationally, Florida ranked second in farm cash receipt from all crops and second, based on value, in vegetable production (USDA, 2003). It also ranked fourteenth out of all the states with respect to agricultural exports with its top exports, fruits and vegetables, falling within the category of specialty crops. According to the USDA (2003), Florida's agricultural exports helped to boost farm prices and income and supported approximately 17,000 jobs both on and off farm in 2001. As such, its agricultural exports are important to Florida's agricultural and statewide economy. From a Florida farm cash receipts perspective, increased imports could undermine revenue earnings from specialty crop production, especially if there is not a comparable growth in the exports of these crops. This report covered the period 1991 to 2002 and examined trade flows for selected specialty crops deemed important to Florida's agriculture. Overall, the US had a relatively high import level of the selected specialty crops. This was apparent from the widening trade gaps and the declining surpluses experienced by all commodities, with the exception of oranges and strawberries. CANMEX was the dominant supplier of vegetables, and growing imports from this group drove the growing vegetable trade deficit. With respect to fruits, CANMEX was also a dominant supplier and affected trade balances however, many of the declining fruit trade balances were due to declining exports to markets such as Asia and the Europe. CANMEX played a major role in the trade of foliage and floriculture but did not dominate the trade. Over the period 1991 to 2002 there were changes in the trade flows of the selected vegetables, fruits and foliage and floriculture. Two noticeable trends were the concentration of trade with CANMEX, especially with respect to vegetable exports and declining exports to Asia and Europe. Also noticeable were declining trade balances experienced by the majority of the commodities in this study. With free trade agreements, an increased inflow of goods is expected as trade barriers are lowered. Preparing for additional imports resulting from expanded regional free trade agreements in the western hemisphere requires the commitment of additional resources toward the expansion of existing markets and the development of potentially new markets.

  PublisherDOI

• United States Trade Flows for Selected Categories of Specialty Crops and the General Policy Implication

  AgEcon Search (University of Minnesota, USA) · 2004-01-01

  preprintOpen access

  As the US continues to negotiate free trade area agreements within the western hemisphere, the accompanying reduction and/or removal of trade barriers on a wide range of agricultural products could have a major impact on the competitive position of United States (US) specialty crops 2 .Increased imports of these commodities from the RTA partners could negatively affect local production.The potentially negative impact would be greater for winter production areas such as Florida, as the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) produces the same specialty crops and have similar production periods.Nationally, Florida ranked second in farm cash receipts from all crops and second, based on value, in vegetable production (USDA, 2003).It also ranked fourteenth out of all the states with respect to agricultural exports with its top exports, fruits and vegetables, falling within the category of specialty crops.According to the USDA ( 2003), Florida's agricultural exports help to boost farm prices and income and supported approximately 17,000 jobs both on and off farm in 2001, and as such are important to Florida's agricultural and statewide economy.Increased imports could undermine

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• George Christakis

  Toronto Public Health

  13 shared

• L B Bailey

  University of Georgia

  12 shared

• P. Wagner

  Florida College

  12 shared

• James S. Dinning

  10 shared

• Garfield G. Lowe

  8 shared

• H. Appledorf

  University of Florida

  8 shared

• PAUL E. ARAUJO

  7 shared

• Edward A. Evans

  7 shared