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{{Short description|American anthropologist (born 1958)}}
{{Refimprove|date=April 2009}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name = Jeffrey Meldrum
| image =
| birth_date = {{birth_date_and_age|1958|05|24}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| thesis_title = Terrestrial adaptations in the feet of African cercopithecines
| thesis_year = 1989
| thesis_url = https://www.proquest.com/openview/fd848551dd87b086485b14a60c55550d/1
| doctoral_advisor = [[John G. Fleagle]]
| education = [[Brigham Young University]] ([[Bachelor of Science|B.S.]], [[Master of Science|M.S.]])<br />[[Stony Brook University]] ([[Ph.D.]])
| workplaces = [[Duke University]]<br>[[Northwestern University]]<br>[[Idaho State University]]
| occupation = Anthropologist}}


'''D. Jeffrey Meldrum''' (born 1958) is a [Full Professor]] of Anatomy and Anthropology and a Professor of the Department of Anthropology at [[Idaho State University]]. Meldrum is also Adjunct Professor of Occupational and Physical Therapy.
'''Don Jeffrey "Jeff" Meldrum''' (born May 24, 1958) is a Full Professor of [[Anatomy]] and [[Anthropology]] in the Department of Biological Sciences at [[Idaho State University]]. Meldrum is also adjunct professor in the Department of Physical and Occupational Therapy and the Department of Anthropology. Meldrum is an expert on foot morphology and locomotion in [[Primate|primates]].<ref name="sciam"/>

Meldrum is an expert on foot morphology and locomotion in primates.<ref name="sciam"/>


==Biography==
==Biography==
Meldrum received his [[Bachelor of Science|B.S.]] in zoology specializing in vertebrate locomotion at [[Brigham Young University]] (BYU) in 1982, his [[Master of Science|M.S.]] at BYU in 1984 and a [[Ph.D.]] in anatomical sciences, with an emphasis in biological anthropology, from [[State University of New York at Stony Brook]] in 1989. He held the position of postdoctoral visiting assistant professor at [[Duke University Medical Center]] from 1989 to 1991. Meldrum worked at [[Northwestern University]]'s Department of Cell, Molecular and Structural Biology for a short while in 1993 before joining the faculty of Idaho State University where he currently teaches.


Meldrum received his [[Bachelor of Science|B.S.]] in [[zoology]] specializing in vertebrate locomotion at [[Brigham Young University]] in 1982, and his [[Master of Science|M.S.]] at BYU in 1984. In 1989, he completed a [[Ph.D.]] at [[Stony Brook University]] in anatomical sciences, with an emphasis in [[biological anthropology]], with [[John G. Fleagle]] as his doctoral advisor.<ref name="phd">
Meldrum has published several academic papers ranging from vertebrate evolutionary morphology, the emergence of bipedal locomotion in modern humans and Sasquatch and is a co-editor of a series of books on paleontology. Meldrum also coedited ''From Biped to Strider: The Emergence of Modern Human Walking'' with [[Charles E. Hilton]]. He edited the textbook [[From Biped to Strider]] (Springer, 2004)
{{cite thesis |type=Ph.D. |publisher=[[Stony Brook University]] |publication-place= |last=Meldrum |first=Jeffrey |date=1989 |title=Terrestrial adaptations in the feet of African cercopithecines |oclc=22951190 |hdl= |doi= |osti= |url=https://www.proquest.com/openview/fd848551dd87b086485b14a60c55550d/1 }}
</ref> He held the position of postdoctoral visiting assistant professor at [[Duke University Hospital|Duke University Medical Center]] from 1989 to 1991. Meldrum worked at [[Northwestern University]]'s Department of Cell, Molecular and Structural Biology for a short while in 1993 before joining the faculty of [[Idaho State University]] where he currently teaches.


Meldrum has published numerous academic papers ranging from vertebrate evolutionary morphology, the emergence of bipedal locomotion in modern humans, and the plausibility behind the [[Bigfoot|Sasquatch]] phenomena, in addition to being a co-editor of a series of books on [[paleontology]]. Meldrum also co-edited ''From Biped to Strider: The Emergence of Modern Human Walking'' with Charles E. Hilton.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Meldrum |first1=Jeffrey |last2=Hilton |first2=Charles |date= 31 March 2004|title=From Biped to Strider: The Emergence of Modern Human Walking, Running, and Resource Transport |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321567509 |publisher=Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers |isbn=978-0-306-48000-3 }}</ref>
Meldrum has attracted media attention due to his interest in [[Bigfoot]].<ref>[http://cbs5.com/watercooler/water.cooler.Jeffrey.2.274282.html "Bigfoot research makes professor a campus outcast"] by Jesse Harlan Alderman, Associated Press, November 3, 2006. Retrieved April 24, 2009.</ref><ref name="sciam">[http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=bigfoot-anatomy "Bigfoot Anatomy"] by Marguerite Holloway, ''[[Scientific American]]'', December 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.isu.edu/~meldd/fxnlmorph.html Meldrum's Evaluation of Sasquatch Footprints]</ref> Skeptic [[Brian Dunning (skeptic)|Brian Dunning]] writes that "The work of responsible scientists like Dr. Meldrum is exactly what true skeptics should be asking the Bigfoot community for, not criticizing him for it."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4011|title=''Killing Bigfoot with Bad Science: Is anyone doing any justice to the Bigfoot claim? '' |author=[[Brian Dunning (skeptic)|Brian Dunning]] |publisher=[[Skeptoid|Skeptoid: Critical Analysis of Pop Phenomena]]|date=2006-12-03 |accessdate=2011-12-12}}</ref>


Meldrum, who is an "active member"<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Meldrum |first=Jeffrey |date=2003-01-31 |title=Who Are the Children of Lehi? |url=https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1310&context=jbms |journal=Journal of Book of Mormon Studies |volume=12 |pages=38–51 |doi=10.5406/jbookmormstud.12.1.0038 |s2cid=55869292 |via=BYU Scholars Archive}}</ref> of the [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], has also studied and commented upon issues of [[genetics and the Book of Mormon]] in his book "[http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/jbms/?vol=12&num=1&id=314 Who Are the Children of Lehi?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130701170609/http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/jbms/?vol=12&num=1&id=314 |date=2013-07-01 }}", written with Trent D. Stephens.
Meldrum was present at a 2011 expedition to Siberia to attempt to locate the [[Yeti]]. However, despite his belief in the existence of the [[Yeti]], he publicly acknowledged that the results of the Russian expedition were most likely fraudulent. He claimed the supposed evidence found was simply an attempt by local government officials to drum up publicity.<ref>http://www.aol.com/2011/11/22/yeti-siberian-snowman-evidence_n_1107370.html#s388533</ref>


==Cryptozoology==
Meldrum has also studied and commented upon issues of [[genetics and the Book of Mormon]] including his paper "[http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/jbms/?vol=12&num=1&id=314 Who Are the Children of Lehi?]" written with [[Trent D. Stephens]].

Meldrum has attracted media attention due to his interest in [[Bigfoot]].<ref name="sciam">{{Cite journal|url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bigfoot-anatomy/|title=Bigfoot Anatomy|first=Marguerite|last=Holloway|date=December 1, 2007|journal=Scientific American|volume=297|issue=6|pages=26–7|doi=10.1038/scientificamerican1207-50|pmid=18237096|bibcode=2007SciAm.297f..50H}}</ref><ref name="KPIX-TV 2006-11-03">{{cite web|url=http://cbs5.com/watercooler/water.cooler.Jeffrey.2.274282.html|title=Bigfoot Research Makes Professor A Campus Outcast|date=3 November 2006|publisher=[[KPIX-TV|CBS San Francisco]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100908102016/http://cbs5.com/watercooler/water.cooler.Jeffrey.2.274282.html|archive-date=8 September 2010|access-date=24 April 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.isu.edu/~meldd/fxnlmorph.html |title=Meldrum's Evaluation of Sasquatch Footprints |access-date=2006-12-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516155612/http://www.isu.edu/~meldd/fxnlmorph.html |archive-date=2011-05-16 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gimletmedia.com/episode/bigfoot/|title=Bigfoot - Science Vs by Gimlet Media|website=gimletmedia.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-11-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110173258/https://gimletmedia.com/episode/bigfoot/|archive-date=2018-01-10|url-status=dead}}</ref> Meldrum believes that Bigfoot exists and his research on the topic has been criticized by some as [[Pseudoscience|pseudoscientific]].<ref name="sciam"/><ref>[https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/idaho-professors-bigfoot-research-criticized/ "Idaho professor’s Bigfoot research criticized"]. ''The Seattle Times''.</ref><ref name="Skeptical Inquirer">{{cite journal|author=Radford, Benjamin|author2=Dennett, Michael R|author3=Crowley, Matt|author4=Daegling, David J.|year=2007|title=The Nonsense and Non-science of Sasquatch|journal=[[Skeptical Inquirer]]|url=https://www.physics.smu.edu/~pseudo/bigfootreview.pdf|volume=31|issue=3|pages=58–61}}</ref> Meldrum authored ''[[Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science]]'' in 2006. The book was heavily criticized in a detailed review in the ''[[Skeptical Inquirer]]''.<ref name="Skeptical Inquirer"/> Anthropologist David J. Daegling commented that author was "unable or unwilling to distinguish good research from bad, science from pseudoscience" and the book failed to provide a thorough scientific analysis.<ref name="Skeptical Inquirer"/> [[Matt Cartmill]] reviewed the book in the ''[[American Journal of Physical Anthropology]]''.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Cartmill, Matt|year=2008|title=Book reviews: Bigfoot Exposed: An Anthropologist Examines America's Enduring Legend. Book reviews: Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science|journal=[[American Journal of Physical Anthropology]]|url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ajpa.20691|volume=135|issue=1|pages=117–118|doi=10.1002/ajpa.20691}}</ref>

Meldrum was present at a 2011 conference in [[Siberia]] regarding the Siberian Snowman, which included among other things investigating alleged footprints that had been spotted in a [[Kemerovo]] cave. He acknowledged that the results of the Russian field trip to the cave site were most likely fraudulent. He suggested that the supposed evidence found was simply an attempt by local government officials to drum up publicity.<ref>{{cite news |last=Speigel |first=Lee |date=2011-11-22 |title=Yeti Evidence Falls Flat: Scientist Says Local Officials Staged Siberian Snowman Hunt For Publicity |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/22/yeti-siberian-snowman-evidence_n_1100497.html |work=HuffPost |access-date=2019-03-11}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Peter C. Byrne]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{Reflist|2}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
*[http://www.isu.edu/~meldd/ Meldrum's Idaho State University homepage]

*[http://www.isu.edu/departments/bios/Professors_Staff/meldrum_j.shtml Meldrum's biography at Idaho State University]
* [https://isu.edu/biology/people/faculty---professors/jeffrey-meldrum/ Meldrum's Idaho State University profile]
* [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jeff_Meldrum Meldrum's ResearchGate profile]

{{Cryptozoology}}
{{Authority control}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Meldrum, Jeffrey
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1958
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Meldrum, Jeffrey}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Meldrum, Jeffrey}}
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American anthropologists]]
[[Category:American anthropologists]]
[[Category:American Latter Day Saints]]
[[Category:Bigfoot]]
[[Category:Bigfoot]]
[[Category:Brigham Young University alumni]]
[[Category:Brigham Young University alumni]]
[[Category:Cryptozoologists]]
[[Category:Duke University faculty]]
[[Category:Duke University faculty]]
[[Category:Idaho State University faculty]]
[[Category:Idaho State University faculty]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Stony Brook University alumni]]
[[Category:State University of New York alumni]]
[[Category:Northwestern University faculty]]
[[Category:American Latter Day Saints]]

Latest revision as of 13:38, 2 August 2024

Jeffrey Meldrum
Born (1958-05-24) May 24, 1958 (age 66)
EducationBrigham Young University (B.S., M.S.)
Stony Brook University (Ph.D.)
OccupationAnthropologist
Scientific career
InstitutionsDuke University
Northwestern University
Idaho State University
ThesisTerrestrial adaptations in the feet of African cercopithecines (1989)
Doctoral advisorJohn G. Fleagle

Don Jeffrey "Jeff" Meldrum (born May 24, 1958) is a Full Professor of Anatomy and Anthropology in the Department of Biological Sciences at Idaho State University. Meldrum is also adjunct professor in the Department of Physical and Occupational Therapy and the Department of Anthropology. Meldrum is an expert on foot morphology and locomotion in primates.[1]

Biography

[edit]

Meldrum received his B.S. in zoology specializing in vertebrate locomotion at Brigham Young University in 1982, and his M.S. at BYU in 1984. In 1989, he completed a Ph.D. at Stony Brook University in anatomical sciences, with an emphasis in biological anthropology, with John G. Fleagle as his doctoral advisor.[2] He held the position of postdoctoral visiting assistant professor at Duke University Medical Center from 1989 to 1991. Meldrum worked at Northwestern University's Department of Cell, Molecular and Structural Biology for a short while in 1993 before joining the faculty of Idaho State University where he currently teaches.

Meldrum has published numerous academic papers ranging from vertebrate evolutionary morphology, the emergence of bipedal locomotion in modern humans, and the plausibility behind the Sasquatch phenomena, in addition to being a co-editor of a series of books on paleontology. Meldrum also co-edited From Biped to Strider: The Emergence of Modern Human Walking with Charles E. Hilton.[3]

Meldrum, who is an "active member"[4] of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has also studied and commented upon issues of genetics and the Book of Mormon in his book "Who Are the Children of Lehi? Archived 2013-07-01 at the Wayback Machine", written with Trent D. Stephens.

Cryptozoology

[edit]

Meldrum has attracted media attention due to his interest in Bigfoot.[1][5][6][7] Meldrum believes that Bigfoot exists and his research on the topic has been criticized by some as pseudoscientific.[1][8][9] Meldrum authored Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science in 2006. The book was heavily criticized in a detailed review in the Skeptical Inquirer.[9] Anthropologist David J. Daegling commented that author was "unable or unwilling to distinguish good research from bad, science from pseudoscience" and the book failed to provide a thorough scientific analysis.[9] Matt Cartmill reviewed the book in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology.[10]

Meldrum was present at a 2011 conference in Siberia regarding the Siberian Snowman, which included among other things investigating alleged footprints that had been spotted in a Kemerovo cave. He acknowledged that the results of the Russian field trip to the cave site were most likely fraudulent. He suggested that the supposed evidence found was simply an attempt by local government officials to drum up publicity.[11]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Holloway, Marguerite (December 1, 2007). "Bigfoot Anatomy". Scientific American. 297 (6): 26–7. Bibcode:2007SciAm.297f..50H. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican1207-50. PMID 18237096.
  2. ^ Meldrum, Jeffrey (1989). Terrestrial adaptations in the feet of African cercopithecines (Ph.D.). Stony Brook University. OCLC 22951190.
  3. ^ Meldrum, Jeffrey; Hilton, Charles (31 March 2004). From Biped to Strider: The Emergence of Modern Human Walking, Running, and Resource Transport. Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers. ISBN 978-0-306-48000-3.
  4. ^ Meldrum, Jeffrey (2003-01-31). "Who Are the Children of Lehi?". Journal of Book of Mormon Studies. 12: 38–51. doi:10.5406/jbookmormstud.12.1.0038. S2CID 55869292 – via BYU Scholars Archive.
  5. ^ "Bigfoot Research Makes Professor A Campus Outcast". CBS San Francisco. 3 November 2006. Archived from the original on 8 September 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2009.
  6. ^ "Meldrum's Evaluation of Sasquatch Footprints". Archived from the original on 2011-05-16. Retrieved 2006-12-19.
  7. ^ "Bigfoot - Science Vs by Gimlet Media". gimletmedia.com. Archived from the original on 2018-01-10. Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  8. ^ "Idaho professor’s Bigfoot research criticized". The Seattle Times.
  9. ^ a b c Radford, Benjamin; Dennett, Michael R; Crowley, Matt; Daegling, David J. (2007). "The Nonsense and Non-science of Sasquatch" (PDF). Skeptical Inquirer. 31 (3): 58–61.
  10. ^ Cartmill, Matt (2008). "Book reviews: Bigfoot Exposed: An Anthropologist Examines America's Enduring Legend. Book reviews: Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science". American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 135 (1): 117–118. doi:10.1002/ajpa.20691.
  11. ^ Speigel, Lee (2011-11-22). "Yeti Evidence Falls Flat: Scientist Says Local Officials Staged Siberian Snowman Hunt For Publicity". HuffPost. Retrieved 2019-03-11.
[edit]