The EOL Biodiversity Synthesis Group and Learning and Education Group have collaborated to create educational species pages on the mammoth (Mammuthus), mastodon (Mammut americanum), giant short-faced bear (Arctodus simus), and
On October 22-24, the Biodiversity Synthesis Center hosted an EOL workshop in conjunction with EOL partner Animal Diversity Web. The workshop goals were to broaden the reach and increase the effectiveness of university students authoring species accounts. A diverse group of 22 participants from four countries assembled to present different programs that involve student authorship and gathering of species data.
From October 5-8th BioSynC hosted a working group meeting whose ultimate goal was to develop objective criteria to assess species’ relative vulnerability to global climate change. The meeting featured 11 participants from the U.S. and Germany and drew together experts from fields that, according to meeting facilitator Dr. Joseph Bernardo, are normally “off in different departments”: ecophysiology, population genetics, quantitative genetics, and phylogenetics.
The Biodiversity Synthesis Center and the Education Department launched the WhyReef Kids Advisory Council on September 12. The Kids Advisory Council is a committee for young people aged 10–14 to explore how virtual and real worlds connect, and will run until October 1. Kids will explore a virtual coral reef in the world of Whyville (www.whyville.net). While immersed in coral reef biology, ecology and conservation, kids will learn key communication skills as well as get a chance to use the latest in digital and social technology.
On the evening of August 17, the EOL Biodiversity Synthesis Center and Institutional Advancement showcased paleontology fieldwork and the educational program “I Dig Zambia” to a small group of Museum members. Assistant Curator Ken Angielczyk (Geology) gave a short presentation on his team’s recent fossil discoveries during their recent trip to Zambia. This was followed by a presentation by Scientific Program Manager Audrey Aronowsky (BioSynC) of “I Dig Zambia”, the educational project that virtually followed Ken’s team to Zambia.
The EOL Biodiversity Synthesis Group and Learning and Education Group have collaborated to create educational species pages on the mammoth (