Smithsonian
Institution
National Museum of Natural History
Research
Training Program
Bill
and Jean Lane
Internship Endowment
2002 |
2003 |
2006
The
Bill and Jean Internship Endowment celebrates
the Lane's history and committment to the Museum
by supporting two named positions in the Research
Training Program; the Bill and Jean Lane Intern
and the Robert W. Fri Intern.
Bill
Lane is the former publisher of Sunset magazine
and retired co-chairman of the board of Lane
Publishing Co., now the Sunset Publishing Corp.
owned by Time Warner. He is a former U.S. ambassador
to Australia and ambassador-at-large to Japan.
From 1928 to 1990, the Lane Publishing Co. published
Sunset magazine, a successor to a publication
started in 1898 by Leland Stanford Sr.'s company,
the Southern Pacific Railroad.
Jean
Lane served on the NMNH Board. She is also
a docent at Stanford University's Jasper Ridge
Biological Preserve and has served on the boards
of the National Tropical Botanical Garden and
the Filoli Center in Woodside.
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Robert
W. Fri served at Director of the National
Museum of Natural History for five years (1997
- 2001), departing in September, 2001. During
his five years he lead the the NMNH, making
it the most-visited museum in the world and
helping to foster creative scientific and public
programming. He was particularly interested
in providing opportunities for students to learn
about natural history studies by drawing on
the resources of the Museum and held a special
interest in the Research Training Program, each
year taking time our from his busy schedule
to meet and visit each student to discuss their
research projects and career endeavors.
In
addition to serving as NMNH Director he has
also served as president of Resources for the
Future, and deputy administrator of both the
Environmental Protection Agency and the Energy
Research and Development Administration. Fri
is currently a director of American Electric
Power Company; vice-chair and a director of
the Electric Power Research Institute; a trustee
and vice-chair of Science Service, Inc.; and
a member of the National Petroleum Council.
He is active with the National Academies, where
he is National Associate, vice-chair of the
Board on Energy and Environmental Systems, and
a member of the Advisory Board of the Marion
E. Koshland Science Museum. He has chaired studies
for the National Research Council on the health
standards for the Yucca Mountain repository
and on estimating the benefits of applied research
programs at the Department of Energy. He currently
chairs a study to evaluate the nuclear energy
research program at DOE. Fri received his B.A.
in physics from Rice University and his M.B.A.
from Harvard University, and is a member of
Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi.
Juan
Andreas Martinez
Bill and Jean Lane Intern
2006
Juan
Andres Martinez.
2006.
University of the Republic of Uruguay. Geographic
Variation in "Grey Four Eyed Pouched Oppossums"
Genus Philander (Didelphiomorphia, Didelphidae).
Dr. Don Wilson, Vertebrate Zoology. Mammals.
Bill
and Jean Lane Intern. -
- RTP
Project Summary.
Dear
Bill and Jean Lane,
I
wish to express my sincere gratitude for the
endowment you created several years ago, which
now yields annual payouts to fully support a
position in the Research Training Program (RTP)
each summer. I am the grateful recipient of
this years award thereby providing the financial
support that allowed my participation in the
2006 Research Training Program (RTP) at Smithsonian's
National Museum of Natural History. As a foreign
student I feel privileged to be here at the
Smithsonian and take part in such a challenging
program at a top research institution.
Developing
my research project in the Division of Mammals,
surrounded by such a qualified and warm group
of people in an enjoyable atmosphere was an
incredibly rewarding experience. It opened my
mind and broadened my horizons in how to develop
and conduct biological research in a professional,
responsible and competent way.
This
program has given me the opportunity to see
how natural history grows and develops from
a great variety of disciplines. It has also
shown me how necessary and important multidisciplinary
studies, especially when aiming to produce an
integrative and holistic view of nature. During
this experience, I realized the importance of
museum and collections-based studies for society,
in conserving biodiversity, and as a legacy
for future generations.
The
benefits of this unique and invaluable experience
were not only academic but also of personal
growth. This is one of those life experiences
that changes people, change me, forever, like
an "imprint." My expectations were
exceeded by far. I will never forget what I
have lived and learned this summer as an RTP
student. I really enjoyed every activity, every
informal talk, everything.
At
the end of the program, I feel pity because
time is running out so quickly. But I will be
happy to return home to Uruguay, full of enthusiasm
to continue my studies applying all I have learned
here. It is almost impossible to explain in
a one page letter how enriching and unique experience
has been in all respects, and to thank you for
making it possible with your donation. Muchas
gracias!
Sincerely,
Juan
Andrés Martínez Lanfranco
Research Training Program
Class of '06
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Sylvia
Moses
Bill and Jean Lane Intern
2006
Sylvia
Moses.
2006.
University of California, Berkeley. Characterizing
Chemical Biosignatures of the Gunflint Chert.
Dr. Edward Vicenzi, Mineral Sciences. Bill
and Jean Lane Intern.-
- RTP
Project Summary.
Dear
Bill and Jean Lane,
I
would like to express my sincere and deepest
gratitude for the endowment you created several
years ago, which now yields annual payouts to
fully support a position in the Research Training
Program (RTP) each summer. I am the grateful
recipient of this years award thereby providing
the financial support that allowed my participation
in the 2006 Research Training Program (RTP)
at Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural
History. It is not often that an undergraduate
student is given the opportunity to do her own
research in a first class institution. This
experience has gone above and beyond all of
my expectations.
Working
with the top scientists in my field, I have
been immersed in the world of research science
and have been able to use facilities I only
could have dreamed of before. This summer I
studied the chemistry of Precambrian microfossils
using the most sophisticated micro-analytical
tools. This work has furthered my understanding
that the answers to the biggest questions often
lie hidden in the smallest of details. I have
also learned that patience, determination, and
communication are essential in research and
to always keep an open mind and open eyes.
My
own research has only been a part of this truly
fulfilling summer. I have also been able to
tour and learn about the other disciplines at
the Smithsonian. This has always been a dream
of mine. It has made me further appreciate the
diversity that natural history and the Museum
have to offer to researchers, to the public,
and to me. I have been intrigued by every field
that we were introduced to and have been encouraged
to apply new ideas and methods from other disciplines
to my own research.
Being
a part of the Museum community, and my experiences
through this program, have confirmed my love
of science and exploring the unknown. I cannot
begin to thank you enough and to express my
gratitude for investing in my generation of
scientists. The Research Training Program has
offered the most unique and amazing opportunity
for me. It has helped me understand what I want
to do with my future. I hope some day to be
in a position to share this amazing opportunity
as a senior researcher and to help mentor the
next generation of scientists to come.
Sincerely,
Sylvia
Moses
Research Training Program
Class of '06
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Nick
Rasmussen
Robert W. Fri Intern
2006
Nick
Rasmussen.
2006.Oklahoma
State University. A Study of Flying Squirrels
of Southeast Asia (Sciuridae: Hylopetes).
Dr. Richard Thorington, Vertebrate Zoology,
mammals. Robert
W. Fri Endowment Intern.-
- RTP
Project Summary.
Dear
Mr. Fri,
I
am the grateful recipient of this years Robert
W. Fri award thereby providing the financial
support that allowed my participation in the
2006 Research Training Program (RTP) at Smithsonian's
National Museum of Natural History. It is a
rare opportunity, indeed, to have the privilege
of spending ten weeks at one of the world's
premier natural history institutions and working
with some of the most outstanding professionals
in their respective fields. Participating in
the Research Training Program (RTP) is truly
a once in a lifetime experience.
There
are many internship programs available through
the NMNH, but the RTP is unique. Through this
particular program, I not only completed my
own original research project but I also had
the chance to tour many of the impressive collections
outside of my area of study. These collections
are world-renowned, and some represent the largest
of their kind. On our many tours, we saw rare
gems, mummies, fossils, meteorites, deep sea
fishes, giant frogs, and a great deal more.
For
my project, I studied flying squirrels of the
genus Hylopetes in an effort to gain a better
understanding of how many distinct species are
found in an area of Southeast Asia (Malaysia,
Sumatra, Borneo, and Java primarily) and determine
where these species are distributed. To do this,
I studied skulls and skins of squirrels and
made comparisons of specimens from the various
geographic localities. I have learned a great
deal about skeletal morphology, geography, and
mapping software (ArcGIS).
Not
only did I get to experience the great city
of Washington, D.C. but I also had the fortune
of seeing two other famous cities this summer.
I visited New York City to do some research
at the American Museum of Natural History, and
I went to New Orleans for the Joint Meeting
of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. At this
meeting, I was able to see many interesting
presentations and make contact with a number
of the leading professionals in my field.
This has been a most memorable summer.
Sincerely,
Nick
Rasmussen
Research Training Program
Class of '06
Danielle
Royer
Bill and Jean Lane Intern
2003
Danielle
Royer.
2003.
University of Toronto. The Spatial Distribution
of Early Human Activities One Million Years
Ago in the Southern Rift Valley of Kenya. -
- Virtual
Poster. Richard Potts, Anthropology. Bill
and Jean Lane Endowment Intern.
- - RTP
Project Summary.
"I
am writing this letter from my desk in the lab
of the Human Origins Program at the Smithsonian
National Museum of Natural History. Just a short
time ago, that would have seemed like a preposterous
idea; something out of a dream or a fantasy.
Yet thanks to your kindness and generosity,
here I am, at the Smithsonian.
I
am at a loss as to how to properly convey to
you my immense gratitude for the support that
you have given me. Perhaps the only gesture
I can give in thanks is to show you how your
generosity has helped me, and will continue
to help me throughout my career.
I
am from a small border town in southeastern
Ontario, Canada. I have recently graduated from
the University of Toronto, in Canada, with an
Honours Bachelor of Science, majors in Biological
Anthropology and Prehistoric Archaeology. It
was while taking an introductory anthropology
course in my freshman year that I developed
a passion for palaeoanthropology, the study
of human evolution; a passion which has only
strengthened since that time. I was, and still
am, determined to make palaeoanthropology my
lifelong career. However, like all dreams, there
were obstacles to overcome. The study of palaeoanthropology
is simply not a research focus in Canada. If
I was serious about pursuing graduate studies
in palaeoanthropology (which I am!), and obtaining
a research career in this field (which I am!),
I would have to look outside of my beloved Canada.
Therefore, I turned my attentions south, much
to the dismay of some of my colleagues, family
and friends (the "brain drain" to
the US is a real fear in Canada). But how was
I supposed to make my mark (or even my entrance!)
in a new and unfamiliar country, where I had
no established networks or contacts? Enter the
Research Training Program! With your kind support,
combined with support from the National Science
Foundation, I was welcomed with open arms into
the Smithsonian community. Suddenly, I was no
longer alone: I was part of the RTP, part of
the Human Origins Program, part of the Anthropology
Department, part of the National Museum of Natural
History! This has been a truly amazing opportunity,
from which I will benefit for the rest of my
life. This fall, once the RTP is over, and after
I have returned from two weeks of fieldwork
in Kenya with Dr. R. Potts, I will begin doctoral
studies in palaeoanthropology at SUNY Stony
Brook. The skills I have acquired during the
RTP, and the contacts that I have made will
surely be put to good use in an American graduate
school. All of this is thanks to you.
I
do not know what motivated you to support the
RTP. However, I would like you both to know
that this gesture of support and faith will
motivate me during my graduate studies and beyond.
Perhaps one day I can provide a similar gift
to an aspiring researcher. Thank you for extending
your generosity beyond the boundaries of your
country."
Most
Sincerely,
Danielle
Royer
University of Toronto
Toronto, CANADA
Michael
Nowak
Robert W. Fri Intern
2002
Michael
Dennis Nowak.
2002.
University of Wisconsin (2002 Biology). The
Effect of Depositional Environment and Preservation
on the Composition of Paleogene Pollen Assemblages.
- - Virtual
Poster. Scott Wing, Paleobotany. Bill
and Jean Lane Endowment Intern.
- - RTP
Project Summary.
"The
experiences I enjoyed this summer in the Research
Training Program will have a lasting effect on
my personal and professional life. I am writing
to express my gratitude for the financial support
that made my experience in the National Museum
of Natural History’s Research Training Program
possible. This program has allowed me the truly
unique experience of working with many of the
leading scientists in my field.
I
spent three weeks of the RTP experience working
in Wyoming with Dr. Scott Wing. In the field
of Paleobotany, fieldwork is vital to the success
of a research project. I was able to gain very
practical field experience and learn valuable
techniques that I will carry with me for years
to come.
I
will start graduate school in Paleobotany at
the University of Oklahoma in the fall. The
knowledge that I take with me is priceless.
I have learned in a summer what many students
fail to learn in a year of graduate work.
In
my fellow Research Training Program participants,
I see a rich future of scientific success. I
have formed friendships that will carry on both
personally and through professional collaboration.
I feel very lucky to have offered this opportunity,
and it is through your financial support that
others will have the same opportunity. By supporting
this program you are investing in the future
of science, and I thank you for that. "
Michael
D. Nowak
University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point
Stevens Point, WI
David
Ramjohn
Bill and Jean Lane Intern
2002
David
Damian Ramjohn.
2002.
College of Charleston. Zoogeographical Analysis
of the Coastal Marine Fishes of Trinidad and
Tobago, West Indies. - - Virtual
Poster. Bruce Colette, Vertebrate Zoology
- Fishes. Bill and
Jean Lane Endowment Intern.
- - RTP
Project Summary.
"I have had some incredible experiences
this summer through my participation in the
Smithsonian Institution’s Summer Research
Training Program. None of these experiences
have given me as much pleasure as this task
of writing to thank you for your generous support
that made this possible, yet, none of them have
proven to be as difficult. The difficulty lies
in my inability to find words to express my
gratitude to you for your support of a complete
stranger in the pursuit of academic and professional
excellence.
How do I thank you for your vision and faith
in the future as expressed by your actions?
How do I thank you for the worlds of opportunity
that have been revealed to me through your generosity?
Can I explain the mixed emotions of pride and
humility – pride for the recognition of
my ability and accomplishments, and humility
amongst some of the great scientists that I
have had the distinct pleasure to work with
and learn from? Any words I choose to express
what I feel will seem mere platitudes, incapable
of conveying what this has meant to me.
I propose instead to dedicate my life’s
work to justifying your faith in the future.
My career and the accomplishments therein will
bear testimony to the faith that you and others
like you have shown in the untried abilities
of an unknown aspiring ichthyologist. I bear
the singular honor of being the first recipient
of your endowment to the Research Training Program
and hope to be the benchmark against which all
other recipients are measured. Perhaps one day,
I too will be able to facilitate the fulfillment
of the dreams and aspirations of members of
the future generations of young scientists,
as you have done for me."
I thank you.
Sincerely,
David
D. Ramjohn
College of Charleston
Charleston, SC
