Smithsonian museum names acting director

Paul Risser of the University of Oklahoma was named acting director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History on Friday.

He replaces museum director Cristian Samper, who was named acting secretary of the Smithsonian following the resignation of Lawrence Small from that post last week.

Risser is the chair of the University of Oklahoma Research Cabinet and coordinates and facilitates research across the university's three campuses. He also heads the science committee at the museum.

"In an interesting way, the museum's extraordinary exhibits and its research and education programs are probably more important today for our country than at any time in our history," Risser said in a statement. "Our understanding of the natural sciences is unfolding at an extremely rapid rate, making it a challenge to just keep up with new discoveries and their applications."

Before taking the post in Oklahoma he was president of Oregon State University, and previously headed Miami University of Ohio.

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Natural History Museum: http://www.mnh.si.edu