Smithsonian
Institution
National Museum of Natural History
Research
Training Program
Summary of Events
2005
28
May 2005 - 6 August 2005
A
total of 20 undergraduate students were anticipated to
join the RTP Class of '05 including 2 students from the Notre
Dame partnership program. The following activities schedule was
in the planned for the '05 program.
As
the result of a catastrophic web server crash on 9 February 2005 resulting
in the irretrievably loss of all data, the 2005 session of the RTP was
canceled.
Schedule
of Events |
Poster |
Program
Summary
Student
Abstracts |
Photo
Gallery
Virtual
Poster Session
Created:
16 June 2004 |
Last
Updated: 16 August 2004
|
Key
changes from the '04 schedule of events:
A
full day of tours at the Museum Support Center (MSC) will be featured
in Week 1.
The
closing RTP oral presentations are discontinued. Departments will
be encouraged to host their own intern seminar series.
Week
2 will feature a full series of lectures, discussions, workshops,
and tours highlighting the geological sciences.
The graduate school lunch discussion will feature a social with
NMNH graduate fellows and informal conversation.
The
NMNH Open House is canceled.
The
closing poster session will take place in the morning, followed
by a lunch reception.
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Week
1
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Week
2
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Monday
30 May 2005 |
Orientation
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Monday
6 June 2005
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Tuesday
31 May 2005 |
Registration
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Tuesday
7 June 2005 |
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Wednesday
1
June 2005
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Wednesday
8 June 2005
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Thursday
2 June 2005 |
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Thursday
9 June 2005 |
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Friday
3 June 2005 |
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Friday
10 June 2005
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Saturday
4 June 2005 |
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Saturday
11 June 2005 |
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Week
3
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Monday
13 June 2005
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Vertebrate
Zoology
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Monday
20 June 2005
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Tuesday
14 June 2005
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Tuesday
21 June 2005
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Wednesday
15 June 2005
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Wednesday
22 June 2005
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Grad
School
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Thursday
16 June 2005
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Thursday
23 June 2005
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Friday
17 June 2005 |
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Friday
24 June 2005
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Saturday
18 June 2005 |
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Saturday
25 June 2005 |
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Monday
27 June 2005
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Entomology
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Monday
4 July 2005
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Holiday
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Tuesday
28 June 2005
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Tuesday
5 July 2005
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Wednesday
29 June 2005
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Publishing
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Wednesday
6 July 2005
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Thursday
30 June 2005
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Thursday
7 July 2005
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Friday
1 July 2005 |
Invertebrate
Zoology
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Friday
8 July 2005 |
Anthropology
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Saturday
2 July 2005 |
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Saturday
9 July 2005 |
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Monday
11July 2005
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Monday
18 July 2005
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Tuesday
12 July 2005
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Tuesday
19 July 2005
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Wednesday
13 July 2005
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Wednesday
20 July 2005
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Thursday
14 July 2005
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Thursday
21 July 2005
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Friday
15 July 2005 |
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Friday
22 July 2005 |
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Saturday
16 July 2005 |
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Saturday
23 July 2005 |
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Monday
25 July 2005
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Monday
1 August 2005
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Tuesday
26 July 2005
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Tuesday
2 August 2005
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Wednesday
27 July 2005
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Wednesday
3 August 2005
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Thursday
28 July 2005
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Thursday
4 August 2005
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Friday
29 July 2005 |
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Friday
5 August 2005 |
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Saturday
30 July 2005 |
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Saturday
6 August 2005 |
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Research Training Program
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
2005
*
* * ARRIVAL * * *
*
Friday, 27 May 2005 *
9:00
a.m. : Apartment inspection conducted
by Staff
Check
Points:
-
Apartments clean, in good repair, and ready for move-in
-
Bedrooms setup for two-person occupancy
- Bathrooms
clean, in good repair, and operational
- Kitchens
clean, stocked accordingly, and operational
- Telephone
operational
*
Saturday, 28 May 2005 *
10:00
a.m. - 6:00 p.m. : Apartment check-in
Location:
The
Reserve at Eisenhower
5000 Eisenhower Avenue
Alexandria , VA 22305
Phone:
(703) 751-4100
For
questions contact: Debbie Lynch or available property manager.
Apartments
come fully furnished:
- Utilities
provided.
- Air
Conditioning.
- Dishwasher
and Microwave.
- Unlimited
Local Telephone Service and Voicemail.
- 25"
Color TV and VCR with Basic Cable.
- Internet
connection.
- Controlled
Access Building.
- Fitness
Facility Onsite.
- Swimming
Pool Onsite.
- One
Parking Space per student.
- Complimentary
Coffee daily.
- Washer
and Dryer in every apartment.
- 24
hour business center onsite.
* Sunday, 29 May
2005 *
9:00
a.m.
- 6:00 p.m. : Apartment check-in continues.
*
* * Check-in Notes * * *
Week
1 |
Week 2 |
Week 3 |
Week 4 |
Week 5 |
Week 6 |
Week 7
Week 8 |
Week 9 |
Week 10
*
* * WEEK 1 * * *
*
Monday, 30 May 2005 (Memorial Day Holiday) *
8:45
a.m. - 12:30 p.m. : PROGRAM
ORIENTATION - host: Mary
Sangrey
8:45
a.m. : Arrival.
-
Assemble at the Constitution Avenue lobby area entrance.
-
PLEASE BE PROMPT!
- Receive
a temporary behind-the-scenes identification badge from security.
- Issue
of temporary ID requires that a photo ID be exchanged for a one-day
SI badge.
-
Please DO NOT use a passport for the photo ID exchange, unless you have
NOTHING else!
9:00
a.m. - 12:30 p.m. : Program Orientation
/ Completion of Registration Forms.
Location:
Academic Resources Center (ARC)
Main Building, Room 60A
Natural History Building
10th Street & Constitution Avenue, NW
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560
Speaker:
Mary Sangrey (phone:
202-633-4548)
Topic:
Everything you ever wanted to know about the
Research Training Program - here's the chance to ask.
Founded
in 1980, the Research Training Program (RTP) is a museum-based, undergraduate
course in collections-based research and natural history studies including
the biological, geological, and anthropological sciences. Developing confidence
and competence in the research process is the cornerstone of the program.
The course includes a curriculum of required activities and events plus
a research topic conducted under the guidance of a professional scientist.
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-
- - ITEMS DUE - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Forms
to be completed:
-
"Intern Registration Form"
- "Copyright
Agreement"
- "Photographic
Release Agreement"
- "Background
Survey Questionnaire"
- "Request
for Network/Groupwise Account Form"
- "Network
Systems and E-mail User Agreement Form"
- "SI
Libraries Borrowing Registration/Authorization Form"
- "Office
Registration Form"
- "Foreign
Visitor/Fellow Visa & Tax Questionnaire"
- Pre-program
Survey
-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - -
Required
orientation information:
-
The
Reserve at Eisenhower apartment phone number
- Insurance
information
- One
sentance description of your research project
- If
selecting SI provided travel, flight receipts
-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - -
Other
topics to be discussed:
-
"Project Proposal and Budget Request" due Tuesday, 7
June 2005.
- Leave
and Absence policy.
- Required
Attendance at RTP Curriculum Events.
- Poster
reception.
- Virtual
poster session.
-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - -
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12:30 - 4:00 p.m.
ORIENTATION OPTIONS:
a) Individual Question/Answer session.
b) Individual tour from Constitution Avenue entrance
to YOUR office space.
c) Free time to tour the building.
*
Tuesday, 31 May 2005 *
8:30
- 9:15 a.m. : GROUP
PHOTOGRAPH - host: Mary
Sangrey
Location: NHB front steps
Meet outside NHB, "Mall side," at the front doors. BE PROMPT!
Photographer: Chip Clark (phone: 202-633-0837)
9:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. : PROJECT
ORIENTATION
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:
-
Department Photocopier, available for the student's use.
- Department
Computer, available for the student's use.
- Department
administration office and contacts.
- Department
mailboxes where students can send and receive mail.
- Department
specialties.
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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - -
NOTE:
Students, during this time you must:
- Secure
your advisor's signature on the "Intern Registration Form".
-
Complete the "Project Description" section of the registration
form.
- Meet
the Department/Unit administrative staff.
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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - -
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noon - 12:45 p.m. : RECEPTION
- host: Staff
Location:
Director's Office
Main Building, Third Floor, Room 421
Natural History Building
10th Street & Constitution Avenue, NW
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560
Speaker:
Dr.
Cristián Samper, Director, National
Museum of Natural History
Topic:
RTP
Opening Reception.
An
informal gathering of residents from the NMNH community plus members from
funding organizations and other special guests. Each research advisor
will introduce their student to the group and students given the opportunity
to offer a brief commentary. Light
refreshments available.
1:30
- 3:00 p.m. : REGISTRATION
- host: Mary Sangrey
1.
Smithsonian ID.
1:30
- 2:00 p.m. Venture
over to the Arts & Industries Building, Room 1488A, to secure
your Smithsonian photo ID - smile nice!
Location:
Arts & Industries Building
Main Building, Room 1488A
phone: 202-633-9081
Hours of operation: 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
- ALL
international students MUST bring their passport to this
registration session so as to receive their ID!
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-
- - ITEMS DUE - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Forms
to be turned in during registration:
-
"Intern Registration Form"
- "Copyright
Agreement"
- "Photographic
Release Agreement"
- "Background
Survey Questionnaire"
-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - -
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2. Foreign Student Expense Calculation and
Tax Information. (foreign
students only)
2:00
- 2:30 p.m. Foreign
students will meet with Will Morrison (phone: 275-0655), Office
of Fellowships, in the International
Center Office, Quad Building, Room 3123, to complete a calculation
of summer expenses so these can be deducted before income tax withholding
is calculated. In preparation of this meeting all foreign students
should prepare
an outline of their summer expenses. Foreign students attending this
session must also bring along their passport and visa. Please note
that one of the documents issued by Will will need to be signed in
front of a notary and sent back to Will before Friday,
4 Jun 05. To help this process, Will will provide the name
and location of a notary at NMNH.
3.
Foreign Student Forms Check & Visa Confirmation.
(foreign students only)
2:30
- 3:00 p.m. Foreign
students will meet with Brian LeMay (phone: 633-1849), International
Center Office, Quad Building, Room 3123, to confirm visa and travel
papers.
3:00
- 5:00 p.m. : PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION
Students:
Review and copy forms, test the e-mail system, and begin preparing your
project proposal.
*
Wednesday, 1 June 2005 *
*
* * A day at the Museum Support Center * * *
9:00
a.m. - noon
: TOURS - Part I
Join
collection managers Deb Hull-Walski (Anthropology), Jeremy Jacobs (Mammals),
Steve Gotte (Herps), Jeff Williams (Fish), Leslie Hale (Rocks & Ores)
and Linda Welzenback (Meteorites) for a tour through the MSC pods and
laboratores.
Noon - 2:00 p.m. : LUNCH
DISCUSSION - host: Mary
Sangrey
Pizza
for lunch is being provided for everyone attending!
Location:
MSC Patio
Moderator:
Mary Sangrey (phone: 202-633-4548)
Topic:
Collections
Management: one hundred twenty four million and counting, caring for the
national collections.
Join
the tour hosts for a discussion about the upcoming behind-the-scenes tours
of NMNH research collections.
The
Smithsonian collections total more than 142 million artifacts, works of
art, and specimens from nature. Our collections form an unparalleled encyclopedic
record of life on earth from its earliest beginnings to contemporary societies.
Natural History's holding count for more than 88% of these, or 124.7 million
specimens. Over 300,000 new specimens are added to the collections each
year though active collecting, specimen exchanges, plus donations and
acquisitions. Each year the Smithsonian loans more than 271,000 to institutions
around the world, including loans to over 50 different foreign countries.
Annually we borrow over 130,000 specimens from other institutions with
most specimens loaned for study purposes.
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Collection
Staff Profile
from
2001 data
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| Museum
senior management |
6
|
| Curator |
95
|
| Research
scientist |
8
|
| Affiliated
agency research scientist |
29
|
| Researcher |
6
|
| Emeritus
scientist |
14
|
| Research
assistant |
6
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| Supervisory
museum specialist |
17
|
| Museum
specialist |
116
|
| Affiliated
agency museum specialist |
9
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| Supervisory
information management specialist |
2
|
Information
management specialist
|
1
|
| Collections
Officer |
18
|
| Photographer,
digital imaging |
1
|
| Public
information officer |
4
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| Registrarial
duties |
3
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| Repatriation
case officer |
5
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| Scientific
illustrator |
4
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Affiliated
agency administration
|
27
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| Conservator/preservation
specialist |
3
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| Contractors
|
27
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| Interns,
volunteers, and other unpaid labor |
86
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The staff of Natural
History includes approximately 650 federally-funded and trust-funded employees,
performing collections management, research, administrative, educational,
and facilities management functions at NHB and MSC; plus 197 research
associates; and more than 65 scientists, technicians, and staff from resident
affiliated agencies. The collections receive about 2,200 research visitors
each year totaling about 16,500 visitor days
Approximately 578,841
square feet is dedicated to collections storage at our two major facilities,
the Natural History Building on the Mall and the Museum Support Center
in Silver Hill, Maryland.
Collections
management activities are many and varied, as are the people that comprise
this staff. Three areas, however, are common to all departments and account
for a large portion of the activities. They are collections care, maintenance
and conservation; specimen/object processing (including physical processing
and identification) and cataloging; and "transaction management"
which includes lending specimens to other institutions, processing those
borrowed by our curators, donating, acquiring, and exchanging specimens
or objects, and other related activities.
Although
techniques for many of these operations are unique to each department
or division, the goal is common to all: to acquire and conserve specimens
and objects that are appropriate to the museum's mission, to capture collections
data (and by today's standards, that means electronically), and to provide
appropriate access to our collections and their data (today that means
both physical and electronic access).
For
more information:
2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
:
TOURS - Part II The Dermestid Colony
Topic:
The Osteo Prep Facilities
Guides:
John
Ososky
Visit
the Smithsonian's osteopreparation facility and see how most vertebrate
skeletal specimens are prepared. View the skeletal processing methods
from carcass preparation to the production of clean, undamaged skeletons.
3:00 - 4:00 p.m.: TOURS
- Part III Marine Mammal Storage
Topic:
The new whale storage facility
Guide:
Charley Potter (202-786-2497)
Location:
The Garber Facility at MSC
Although
the Garber Facility is best known for its airplane collection, a new whale
storage facility was just established there. Housing the large whale collection
and an extensive collection of baleen whales, Garber contains the most
massive of the marine mammals. Join Charley into an entirely different
dimension of museum collections, as he describes the wonders and challenges
of having to manage such large specimens.
4:00
- 5:30 p.m.
: OPTIONAL SOCIAL and TOUR
Location: Botany Greenhouses
Social
Host: Bob Faden
Topic:
Botany
Greenhouses
Tour
the greenhouses then relax amid the tropical plants. Snacks and dDessert
will be available. Members from the NMNH Botany community will gather
to discuss their research interests.
*
Thursday, 2 June 2005 *
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, 3 June 2005 *
-
- - Botany - - -
http://www.nmnh.si.edu/botany.html
9:00
- 10:00 a.m. : LECTURE
- host: Intern
Location:
Academic Resources Center - ARC
NHB, Main Building, Ground Floor, Room 60A
Speaker:
Dr. W. John Kress. Curator, Botany. BA (1975) Harvard University;
Ph.D. (1981) Duke University. Research specialties: systematics and
phylogenetics of tropical plants, especially monocotyledons and the
Zingiberales (bananas, heliconias, and gingers); plant reproductive
biology; the evolution of breeding and pollination systems; genetic
variation and speciation, plants
of Myanmar. Science Unit: Department
of Botany.
Topic:
Botanical Explorations in Myanmar
The
country of Myanmar stretches from the high elevation environments of
the Himalayas in the north to the lowland evergreen rain forests of
the southern peninsula. The habitats and the plant life enclosed within
the borders of Myanmar are thus exceedingly diverse. Yet the great majority
of the plants remain to be discovered and documented. The goals of the
Botanical Exploration in Myanmar Project are 1) to continue the exploration
and inventory of the 'Plants of Burma' through field collections and
collaboration with Burmese colleagues, 2) to publish the first comprehensive
checklist of the flowering plants of Myanmar in a revised edition of
the "List of Trees, Shrubs, Herbs and Principal Climbers, etc.
Recorded from Burma." first published in 1912, 3) to continue training
Burmese botanists in field and herbarium techniques, and 4) to use the
information on plant diversity to further environmental conservation
in Myanmar.
10:30
a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
: COLLECTION TOUR
- host: Intern
Meeting
Location: Academic Resources Center
- ARC
NHB, Main Building, Ground Floor, Room 60A
Tour
Guide: Greg McKee (phone: 202-633-0943)
Topic:
The US National Herbarium
Collection
Profile
Botany
-
Size
of collections: 4.7 million specimens, including 90,000
type specimens
-
Federal
affiliations: USDA National Arboretum; National Fungus Collections,
USDA, Beltsville
-
Living
collections: two greenhouses containing approximately 1,500
living plants; two 160-gallon aquaria with 40-60 species of
algae, plus 35-45 species of invertebrates and fish
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Explore
the US National Herbarium. See the "Botany Best" collection
and learn why museum plant collections are important.
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.
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).
Current
holdings total over 4.7 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.
12:30 - 1:00 p.m. : LUNCH BREAK
Option:
1:00 - 5:00 p.m. : STUDENT OPTIONS -
host: Intern
a)
Research
b)
Optional Botany Demonstrations & Tours
Social |
Histology |
Pressing
& Mounting |
Illustration
1:00 - 1:30 p.m.
: OPTIONAL SOCIAL
Location: Botany Chairman's Office
NHB, West Wing, 4th Floor, Room W405
Social
Host: Bob Faden
Topic:
Meet
the NHB Botany Community
Dessert
will be available. Members from the NMNH Botany community will gather
to discuss their research interests.
1:30 - 2:15 p.m. OPTIONAL WORKSHOP
Location:
Plant Anatomy Laboratory
NHB, West Wing, 5th Floor, Room W529
Instructor: Stan Yankowski (phone: 202-633-0962)
Topic:
Plant Histology
The
workshop begins with a quick 10 minute tour around the lab and demonstration
of the freezing microtome and the services provided by the histology lab.
Those interested in learning more are welcome to stay for some hands-on
opportunities to try the techniques.
1:30
- 1:40 p.m.
General Demo
1:40
- 1:45 p.m.
BREAK
1:45
- 2:15 p.m.
Hands-on Workshop
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.
On
display are examples from the wood collection and the botanical anatomical
reference slide collection. Plant histology techniques including whole
mount clearings, paraffin embedding and sectioning, freezing microtome
sectioning, critical point drying, and photo micrography will be demonstrated.
2:30 - 3:00 p.m. OPTIONAL
DEMONSTRATION
Location: Botany Fern Counter
NHB, West Wing, 5th Floor, Center Aisle
Instructor: Ida Lopez & Katherine Rankin (phone: 202-633-xxxx)
Topic:
Plant Processing, mounting & preserving
Watch
as specimens are prepared for incorporation in to the herbarium. Plant
pressing and mounting will be demonstrated. On display are examples of
specimens showing different mounting and preservation techniques.
3:00 - 4:00 p.m. OPTIONAL WORKSHOP
Location: Botany Fern Counter
NHB, West Wing, 5th Floor, Center Aisle
Instructor: Alice Tangerini (phone: 202-633-0915)
Topic:
Botanical
Scientific Illustration
This
is a hands-on opportunity to try pen and ink line drawing and to experiment
with the tools used by professional scientific illustrators.
On
display are examples of illustrations showing different methods of botanical
illustration and the steps generally followed to progress from concept
to published illustration.
Illustration
tools, including camera lucida use, will be demonstrated and interested
participants will be given the opportunity to experiment with the various
illustration equipment and techniques. The
workshop will also include an opportunity to experiment with drawing on
the computer using the Wacom tablet.
*
Saturday, 4 June 2005 *
Option:
8:45 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. : FIELD
TRIP - host: Intern
Location:
Scientists Cliffs, Maryland
Guides:
Dave Bohaska (phone: 202-633-1309) and Bob Purdy (phone:
202-633-1348).
Topic:
Paleobiology - Calvert Cliffs formation
*
* * Advisors and their families welcome * * *
Itinerary:
7:45
a.m. Meet at The
Reserve
8:00 a.m. Depart Alexandria, Virginia
9:30 a.m. Arrive
Scientists Cliffs, Maryland
Meet at the "Chestnut Cabin" parking lot.
9:30 - 9:45 a.m. Site Orientation
10:00 a.m. - noon. Site Exploration
noon - 1:00 p.m. Lunch
Break - Bring your own lunch.
Notes:
-
Bring
sunscreen.
- Plan
on getting wet and walking in the water (you can even swim at the
beach, if you want.).
- Bring
drinking water.
- Bring
your lunch.
- Bring
a towel, or something to dry off with.
- No
digging in the cliff.
|
Directions
to Scientists Cliffs:
From
The Reserve Apartment Complex, Alexandria, VA:
1.
Take Van Dorn Street to Capitol Beltway (over the Wilson Bridge).
2.
Take exit 11 to Md. Rt. 4 South.
3.
Merge onto MD-4 E. 35.38 miles
4.
Follow Md. Rt. 4 to Prince Frederick, Md. Rt. 231 (traffic light).
At route 231, continue straight on route 4 for about 4 miles.
(Do not turn on 231).
5:
Turn LEFT onto PARKERS CREEK RD. 0.36 miles
6:
Turn RIGHT onto SCIENTISTS CLIFFS RD. 1.46 miles
7.
Turn RIGHT at Gate B
8.
At the fork go LEFT to Chestnut Cabin (if too far you will exit
back to Scientists Cliffs Road at Gate C).
If
you have trouble
call Dave on his cell phone:
443-624-0873
|

About
the Scientists Cliffs Site:
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).

Know Before
You Go
Maryland
State Fossil, Ecphora garderae garderae Wilson, an extinct
gastropod (snail). This fossil snail was one of the first fossils
from the New World to be illustrated and published in the scientific
literature, dating to about 1770. It was officially named Maryland's
state fossil 1 October 1994.
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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.
The cliffs and beaches have been collected and studied from Colonial
times to the present.
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.
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.

Most popular finds
include shark teeth and ray teeth. Here in the left photo, a complete
Spotted Eagle Ray tooth, Aetobatus sp. (far left) and Requien
Shark tooth, Carcharhinus sp. (upper center). Lower right is
an example of ray teeth. The most ray teeth found are form are from
the spotted eagle ray, Aetobatus sp. In
the photo on the right you see a variety of common finds, including
a Mako Shark tooth, Isurus hastalis, (lower right).
*
Sunday, 5 June 2005 *
OPEN
*
* * Week 1 Notes * * *
GEOLOGY
WEEK
Adventures in the Geological Sciences
*
Monday, 6 June 2005 *
-
- - Paleobiology - - -
http://www.nmnh.si.edu/paleo/
9:00
- 10:00 a.m. : LECTURE
- host: Intern
Location:
Academic Resources Cen |