Draft:Champ B. Tanner

{{Infobox academic
| name = Champ Bean Tanner
| occupation = Soil scientist
| birth_date = November 16, 1920
| birth_place = Idaho Falls, Idaho
| death_date = September 22, 1990
}}

{{short description|American soil scientist and meteorologist}}

'''Champ B. Tanner''' (c. 1921 – 1990) was an American soil scientist and professor at the [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]], known for his research in soil physics, evapotranspiration, and plant–water relationships.{{Cite web |title=Champ B. Tanner – Soil and Environmental Sciences |url=https://soilenvsci.wisc.edu/people/emeritus-faculty/champ-b-tanner/ |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=soilenvsci.wisc.edu}}{{cite news |title=Science unit elects UW man to membership |work=Wisconsin State Journal |date=April 29, 1981 |page=28}}

== Background ==
Tanner was born in [[Provo, Utah]], and graduated from [[Brigham Young University]] in 1942.{{cite news |title=B. Y. U. Graduate Given Fellowship |work=Deseret News |date=June 1, 1942 |page=8}}{{cite news |title=Research Fellowship Received by Provoan |work=The Daily Herald (Provo, Utah) |date=June 2, 1942 |page=6}}{{cite news |title=Brothers Win Fellowships In Middle West |work=The Salt Lake Tribune |date=June 4, 1942 |page=4}} He later earned his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin in 1950.{{cite news |title=Central Utah News Briefs |work=The Daily Herald (Provo, Utah) |date=June 20, 1950 |page=3}} He joined the University of Wisconsin faculty in the late 1940s and became a leading figure in soil science and biometeorology.{{cite news |title=Prof. C.B. Tanner Gets Fulbright |work=The Capital Times |date=September 19, 1968 |page=6}}{{cite news |title=UW Professor Gets Fulbright Grant |work=Wisconsin State Journal |date=September 19, 1968 |page=36}} His research focused on water use in plants, evaporation, and the interaction of soil, climate, and agriculture.{{cite news |title=Experts Cite Weather Role in Farming |work=Wisconsin State Journal |date=January 30, 1959 |page=4}}{{cite news |title=Flexible Water Legislation Urged |work=The Capital Times |date=April 17, 1959 |page=6}}{{cite news |title=Ground Thawing From Bottom Not Superstition |work=The Capital Times |date=February 6, 1959 |page=25}} Tanner became an international authority on evapotranspiration and heat exchange at the earth’s surface.{{cite news |title=Provoan's Son Gains Honor From Agronomy Society |work=The Sunday Herald (Provo, Utah) |date=January 1, 1961 |page=1}}{{cite news |title=Find Peas Won't Obey Calendar |work=The Capital Times |date=December 9, 1960 |page=23}}

He was named a fellow of the [[American Society of Agronomy]] in 1960.{{cite news |title=Prof. Tanner Honored by Agronomy Society |work=Wisconsin State Journal |date=December 10, 1960 |page=5}} He later received a [[Fulbright Program|Fulbright]] grant to lecture in Australia and [[Papua New Guinea]].{{cite news |title=Prof. C.B. Tanner Gets Fulbright |work=The Capital Times |date=September 19, 1968 |page=6}}{{cite news |title=UW Professor Gets Fulbright Grant |work=Wisconsin State Journal |date=September 19, 1968 |page=36}} He also attended and chaired international scientific meetings.{{cite news |title=Tanner To Attend Australia Meetings |work=Wisconsin State Journal |date=July 18, 1962 |page=12}}{{cite news |title=Prof. Tanner to Visit Antipodes |work=The Capital Times |date=July 17, 1962 |page=3}}

During his career, Tanner developed instruments for measuring plant water loss and contributed to advances in agricultural and environmental science.{{cite news |title=Tanner picked by Academy of Sciences |work=The Capital Times |date=April 28, 1981 |page=19}}{{cite news |title=Science unit elects UW man to membership |work=Wisconsin State Journal |date=April 29, 1981 |page=28}} In 1981, he was elected to the [[National Academy of Sciences]], one of the highest honors for a U.S. scientist.{{cite news |title=Tanner picked by Academy of Sciences |work=The Capital Times |date=April 28, 1981 |page=19}}{{cite news |title=Science unit elects UW man to membership |work=Wisconsin State Journal |date=April 29, 1981 |page=28}}

Tanner was active in professional societies and received numerous honors for his contributions to soil science.{{cite news |title=Campus notes |work=Wisconsin State Journal |date=November 28, 1978 |page=4}}{{cite news |title=UW gets $72,000 to study Project Sanguine |work=The Austin Daily Herald |date=December 24, 1971}} He remained on the University of Wisconsin faculty for over three decades.{{cite news |title=Tanner picked by Academy of Sciences |work=The Capital Times |date=April 28, 1981 |page=19}}

Champ Tanner died in 1990 at the age of 69 from [[pancreatic cancer]], but his contributions to science continue to influence research in soil and environmental sciences.{{cite news |title=Professor Tanner dies at age 69 |work=Wisconsin State Journal |date=September 24, 1990 |page=2}}

== Honors and awards ==
* '''National Academy of Sciences''', elected 1981
* '''Soil Science Research Award''', Soil Science Society of America
* '''Outstanding Achievement in Biometeorology Award''', American Meteorological Society

== Bibliography ==
Per [[OCLC WorldCat]]

* Tanner, C.B. (1959). "Energy Balance Approach to Evapotranspiration from Cropped Surfaces." ''Soil Science Society of America Journal'', 23(1), 1-8.
* Tanner, C.B., Suomi, V.E. (1960). "Evapotranspiration and Energy Balance of Plants and Soil." ''Journal of Geophysical Research'', 65(9), 3043–3055.
* Tanner, C.B., Sinclair, T.R. (1983). "Efficient Water Use in Crop Production: Research or Re-Search?" ''Advances in Agronomy'', Vol. 42, pp. 1-30.

==References==


== External links ==
* [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/85015640/champ-bean-tanner Champ B. Tanner] on [[FindAGrave]]
{{Authority control|qid=Q135904844}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tanner, Champ B.}}
{{Draft categories|
[[Category:American soil scientists]]
[[Category:Deaths from pancreatic cancer]]
}}