5th Annual Sympsoium

On Sunday, February 12, The Metropolitan Society of Natural Historians hosted its 5th Annual Symposium in collaboration with the Science Research Mentoring Program (SRMP) of the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) at the AMNH's Linder Theater. The symposium included 10-minute talks by eight scientists from prestigious institutions across the tri-state area including the American Museum of Natural History, Columbia University, New York Botanical Garden and Rutgers University. More than 100 people attended this event including 44 students from SRMP. SRMP is an educational after-school program which allows NYC high school students to work directly with scientists at the American Museum of Natural History on research projects. 

We would like to thank Dr. Mark Weckel and Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant from SRMP, all presenters and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation which provided funding for SRMP student participation for making this event possible and a special thanks to all participants!

Below is a list of the presenters and their presentations.

Host evolution through the eyes of a parasite
Kelly Speer, Ph.D. Candidate, Richard Gilder Graduate School, American Museum of Natural History

Evolution and diversity of Gyroporus, a widespread genus of mycorrhizal mushroom
Naveed Davoodian, Ph.D. Candidate, City University of New York and New York Botanical Garden

Other Links: The Boletes

Fossil sloths and the history of South American mammals in the fossil record
Julia Tejada, Ph.D. Candidate, Columbia University and American Museum of Natural History

Detection and development: How sea urchins evolved to match their environment
Dr. Diane Adams, Assistant Professor, Rutgers University

Discovering new bird species in museum collections
Lukas Musher, Ph.D. Student, Richard Gilder Graduate School, American Museum of Natural History

Vacationing to the solar system
Dr. Jana Grcevich, Data Science Fellow, Insight

Sociality in snapping shrimps
Dr. Solomon T.C. Chak, Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Columbia University

Eastern box turtles: Relocation for conservation
Dr. Suzanne Macey, Biodiversity Scientist, American Museum of Natural History & Editorial Fellow, Network of Conservation Educators and Practitioners

Other Links: Northeast PARC: Box Turtle Education Info; Don't Take Me Home

To view more photos from this event, please visit our gallery. All photo credit goes to Maurice Chen.