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Virtual Symposium & Poster Session - join us on-line Thursday, 1 August 2002, to view research poster presentations by the '02 RTP participants. Information
about the Research Training Program:
Application Procedures : go directly to the current RTP on-line application forms
Smithsonian
Center for Education and Museum Studies Smithsonian Office of Fellowships - internships GRADUATES Smithsonian Office of Fellowships - fellowships POST GRADUATES PROFESSIONALS
Professional Visits OTHER ACADEMIC LINKS Office of Fellowships: For information and application materials about fellowships and other scholarly appointments offered at the Smithsonian, visit the Smithsonian's Office of Fellowships web site at: http://www.si.edu/ofg/ SOARS: produced by the Smithsonian Office of Fellowships, "Smithsonian Opportunities for Research and Study" is a guide of research and study programs at the Smithsonian plus a complete listing of scientific staff and their research specialties. The site address is: http://www.si.edu/ofg/sorsnmnh.htm CONTACT
US
- OR -
Research
& Collections |
Smithsonian
Institution
National Museum of Natural History Research
Training Program 25 May 2002 - 3 August 2002 A total of 20 students were selected to participate in the '02 session of the Research Training Program, including 4 international students representing Brazil (2), Ecuador, and Trinidad/Tobago. Schedule
of Events |
Poster |
Program
Summary
Last Updated: 1 July 2002
* * * ARRIVAL * * *  * Friday, 24 May 2002 * 9:00 a.m. : Apartment inspection conducted by Nina Butler Check Points:
* Saturday, 25 May 2002 *
Location:
The Alexandria phone: 703-212-2678 For questions contact: Raymond Franklin, 703-212-2664 Web
link: The
Alexandria, part of Oakwood Corporate Housing * Sunday, 26 May 2002 * 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. : Apartment check-in continues. Apartments come fully furnished. * * * Check-in Notes * * *
Week
1 |
Week 2 |
Week 3 |
Week 4 |
Week 5 |
Week 6 |
Week 7 *
* * WEEK 1 * * * * Monday, 27 May 2002 (Memorial Day Holiday) * 8:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. : PROGRAM ORIENTATION - host: Mary Sangrey
- - - ITEMS DUE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Forms
to be completed:
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* Tuesday, 28 May 2002 * 8:30 - 9:15 a.m. : GROUP PHOTOGRAPH - host: Mary Sangrey Location:
NHB front steps Photographers: Don Hurlbert / Jim DiLoreto (phone: 202-633-9116).
All RTP participants will meet with their research team for detailed orientation to their specific research facilities, to complete registration forms, and to obtain signatures. Department Orientation includes:
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Topic: Director's Social. An
informal gathering of residents from the NMNH community plus members from
funding organizations and other special guests. Light refreshments available.
- - - ITEMS DUE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Forms due to be turned in during registration:
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Students: Review and copy forms, test the e-mail system, and begin preparing your project proposal.
* Wednesday, 29 May 2002 * 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. : RESEARCH
* Thursday, 30 May 2002 * 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. : RESEARCH NOTE:
RTP staff will be conducting site visits to check on "how things
are going" and to photograph student/advisor teams for the "photo
board" and RTP web site. * Friday, 31 May 2002 * -
- - Botany - - - 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. : LECTURE - host: David Cameron Location:
Anthropology Seminar Room Speaker:
Drs. Mark and Diane Littler. B.A. (1961), M.S. Ohio University;
Ph.D. (1971) University of Hawaii. (phone: 202-357-3012).
As a team, the Littlers' research interests are directed toward the stability of marine ecosystems, the productivity and evolution of marine plants and the analysis of plant morphology as a method of predicting its ecological role in the reef community. In 1983 they generated excitement in the scientific community with their discovery of the deepest plant life ever collected from the ocean. The crustose red alga was found in the Bahamas at a depth of 880 feet. This discovery extended the depth distribution limits of marine plants and challenged established theories concerning the minimum light levels necessary to maintain plant growth.
Other
recent discoveries include "Black Band Disease" - which appears
to be a bacteria first found in the Cook Islands.
The pathogen was identified and described as a new species of filamentous
cyanobacterium, Phormidium corallyticum 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. : COLLECTION TOUR - host: Leonardo Versieux Location:
Fern Counter Tour Guide: Greg McKee (phone: 202-357-1590) Topic: The U.S. National Herbarium Explore the US National Herbarium. See the "Botany Best" collection and learn why museum plant collections are important.
The United States National Herbarium (US) was founded in 1848, when the first collections were accessioned from the United States Exploring Expedition (50,000 specimens of 10,000 species).
* Saturday, 1 June 2002 * 8:45 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. : OPTIONAL FIELD TRIP - host: Chad Schennum * * * Advisors and their families are welcome. * * *
Location: Scientists Cliffs, Maryland
Topic: Paleobiology - Calvert Cliffs formation Itinerary:
Located on the western side of the Chesapeake Bay, the "Calvert Cliffs" were formed over 15 million years ago when all of Southern Maryland was covered by a warm, shallow sea. The cliffs dominate the shoreline of the Chesapeake Bay extending for more than thirty miles; from Fairhaven (Anne Arundel County, MD) to near Drum Point (Calvert County, MD). They are considered the best marine Miocene (Miocene Epoch, 25 million to 6.5 million years ago) deposit in the world. Three formations are recognized in the cliffs; from oldest to youngest, the Calvert, Choptank, and St. Marys Formations. These have been further subdivided into Members and Beds. Because of the gentle dip (about 11 feet per mile) of the deposits to the southeast, different Beds are exposed at different localities, containing different sediment types and fossils. Over 600 species of fossils have been identified from these cliffs including the "Maryland State Fossil" Ecphora gardnerae gardnerae Wilson. The most visible fossils are mollusk shells, with some beds so densely packed that they are described as "shell beds." The most popular fossils are the sharks' teeth. Other fossils include microscopic plants and animals, macroscopic plants, corals, barnacles, crabs, sand dollars, sea urchins, bony fish, rays, crocodiles, turtles, birds, terrestrial mammals, and marine mammals. Many fossils have Calvert Cliffs as their type locality and some have been found nowhere else.
* Sunday, 2 June 2002 * OPEN * * * Week 1 Notes * * *
* * * WEEK 2 * * * * Monday, 3 June 2002 * -
- - Invertebrate Zoology - - - 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. : LECTURE - host: Amanda Newsom Speaker: Dr. Dave Pawson, Senior Research Zoologist, Curator of Echinoderms. Associate in Invertebrates, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University. B.A. (1960), M.S. (1961), Ph.D. (1964) Victoria University, New Zealand (phone: 202-786-2127 / e-mail: pawson.david@nmnh.si.edu) Topic: Life in the great ocean depths We have thoroughly explored less than 50 of the approximately 200,000 square miles of deep sea on this planet. Every dive to the deep seabed in research submersibles reveals exciting new animals and new geological features; we need to conduct more exploratory research, especially in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. We know that the deep sea is an important component of the great engine that drives the Earth's climate, but we understand little of the mechanisms involved. We also know that the deep sea is populated by a rich diversity of bizarre animals, some of them of value as food. Orange roughy, sea bass, squid are being fished almost to the point of extinction because we don't understand enough about their biology to form the basis for a sustainable fishery. The mineral resources of the deep sea are also poorly known. Come learn about Dave's discoveries exploring the deep sea, including mermaids (?), sea serpents (?) and other monsters (?) - - - well, maybe.
Location:
IMAX Theater Topic:
Galapagos, in 3D IMAX One time deal! See the IMAX film, Galapagos, complements of Carole Baldwin, and then join Carole on Wednesday, 26 June 02 for an informal lunch. In this 3D film, watch the diverse tapestry of life unfold. Follow Carole Baldwin on her first expedition to to Ecuador's Galapagos Islands. Also included in the film is Dave Pawson. On land, come face-to-face with giant tortoises, marine iguanas, and unusual birds that have evolved into splendid oddities of nature. Under water, meet new species of marine life and explore caverns buried beneath the sea. Web Links:
Location:
SEM Lab Speaker: Scott Whittaker (phone: 202-357-1651) Topic:
Scanning Electron Microscope
* Tuesday, 4 June 2002 * 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. : RESEARCH
4:00 p.m. to be turned in to the RTP Office
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- - - * Wednesday, 5 June 2002 * 9:00 a.m. - noon : RESEARCH
Location:
Anthropology Seminar Room Speaker: Janet Rutledge, Associate Dean of the Graduate School, University of Maryland, Baltimore County. (phone: 410-455-1781 / e-mail: jrutledge@umbc.edu) Topic: The Quest for a Bright Future: options and insights for funding resources and graduate study
She joined the National Science Foundation staff in 1995 and has held administrative positions there overseeing programs in graduate and undergraduate education, course and curriculum development, faculty early career development, and professional opportunities for women in research and education. Before joining the UMBC staff she managed the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program which supports approximately 900 new fellows each year in all areas of science and engineering. Prior to NSF, she was a faculty member at Northwestern University. Joining Dr. Rutledge will be Dr. Eric Sheppard, the current program director for the NSF Graduate Fellowships.
Web Links: Web Sites to Other Fellowship Opportunities
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3:30
- 6:00 p.m. : Apartment check-in 
Location:
Director's Office
Location:
SIL Conference Room
Drs.
Mark and Diane Littler are marine scientists who have developed a unique
husband and wife working relationship. Their mutual interests and aspirations
in the field of marine botany provided the foundation from which two jointly
productive research careers have been based. Their research has taken
them around the globe, including field research in the Belize Barrier
Reef Islands, French Polynesia and Galapagos Islands. They have collectively
published more than 100 research papers. 
In
1994 they discovered a new pathogen of reef building algae - "CLOD"
- that threatens Pacific coral reefs. 
Dead,
usually various shades of brown, pressed and dried plants, generally mounted
on 11" x 17" sheets of paper may not have the initial appeal
of furry mammals or brightly colored bird skins but bring your hand lens
or take advantage of the dissecting microscopes available - herbarium
collections hold many wondrous characters, it just takes a discerning
eye to see the intricate beauty, patterns, and uniqueness.
Current
holdings total 4.6 million specimens from worldwide locations including
90,000 type specimens, making this collection among the ten largest in
the world representing about 8% of the plant collection resources of the
United States. 
An
average of 40,000 specimens are added to the collection each year.
The Department maintains an extremely active loan and exchange program.
About 50,000 specimens are lent annually to other institutions around
the world and an additional 20,000 specimens are exchanged. Approximately
200 researchers visit the herbarium each year.
The
Plant Anatomy Laboratory highlights the wonderful world of Plant Microtechnique.
Learn about why anatomy is useful in taxonomic research and especially
about the methods that reveal anatomical structure and cellular organization
in plants. This is an opportunity to observe and discuss techniques
while they are being demonstrated. The session features microtomy, whole
mount clearing, critical point drying, light microscopy and photomicrography.
Tour
the Botany Library and learn how to utilize the facilities. On special
display, and for your unique review, will be examples from the Botany
rare book collection. 
3:30
- 4:15 p.m. OPTIONAL WORKSHOP 
Guides:
Dave
Bohaska (phone: 202-357-2052) and Bob Purdy (phone: 202-357-1525).
About
the Scientists Cliffs Site: 
The
cliffs and beaches have been collected and studied from Colonial times
to the present. 
The
Calvert Cliffs region is also home to two Federally threatened species
of tiger beetle; Cicindela dorsalis dorsalis (Northeastern Beach
Tiger Beetle) and Cicindela puritana (Puritan Tiger Beetle) which
live on the broad, sandy beaches at approximately ten locations in Virginia
and Maryland including four populations in Calvert County. 
Location:
Anthropology Seminar Room
Dr.
Rutledge holds a B.S. in electrical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from the
Georgia Institute of Technology. 