Knapp has a B.A. in botany from Pomona College (1978) and a Ph.D. from Cornell University (1986). Her main research interest is "the megadiverse genus Solanum, which contains potatoes, tomatoes and eggplants and is one of only a handful of flowering plant genera with more than 1000 species".
He also forged a parallel career as an inspirational communicator via his books and TV series. His colleague Dr SandraKnapp notes that “Richard was the definition of polymath”, while Bill Bryson thought him “without peer amongst science writers” ... ....
