This is a special instalment of Scientists with Cool Names: this particular scientist is still alive!
Dr. Erasmus Smit is New Zealand’s only clinical virologist. Which, as you can imagine, has kept him pretty busy in 2020. He’s on the COVID-19 Technical Advisory Group for the Ministry of Health, in charge of the testing for Covid-19 in the country.
He apparently goes by “Ras”.
Also, he’s named after one of the most badass dudes in history.
Please note this is a different “Erasmus Smit” than the South African pastor from the early 1800s, seen below. Ras is way cooler. You can tell this Erasmus barely went by “Erasmus”, let alone “Ras”.
