FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
11 June 2009

FAIRBANKS, Alaska-- -- More than 400 biologists from around the world will convene at the University of Alaska Fairbanks later this month for the 89th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists.

The conference runs from June 24-28 and includes technical sessions, poster presentations, symposia and workshops on scientific research covering hundreds of species of mammals from little brown bats to big brown bears. The presentations will cover many aspects of the latest mammal research, including genetics, physiology, behavior, morphology, biogeography and conservation.

“There is simply no better way to showcase UAF as a thriving research institution than to invite hundreds of scientists from around the world to visit and see for themselves,” said Link Olson, meeting co-chair and curator of mammals at the UA Museum of the North. “It’s also hands-down the single most effective means of recruiting future graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and faculty to UAF.”

Hosting professional conferences provides scientists an opportunity to educate colleagues about issues important to Alaska.

“The meeting also gives participants a chance to find out what colleagues are doing at this moment without waiting the year or more it takes for published research to become publicly available,” said Kris Hundertmark, meeting co-chair and a wildlife geneticist at the UAF Institute of Arctic Biology.

The meeting includes two events that are free and open to the public, both on Sunday, June 28 in UAF’s Davis Concert Hall. At 4 p.m., UAF professor emeritus and chair of the Idaho State University biological sciences department R. Terry Bowyer will present “Large terrestrial mammals: Population dynamics, politics, and perils.” At 7 p.m., Floyd Sandford will present “Darwin Remembers: Recollections of a Life’s Journey.” This 90-minute one-man living history performance highlights key milestones in Charles Darwin’s life and scientific work.

The conference is hosted by the UAF Institute of Arctic Biology and the University of Alaska Museum of the North. The meeting is held in a different location each year and was last held in Fairbanks in 1989. No other Alaska community has hosted this national meeting.

For more information including registration, schedule, abstracts and author index, visit http://mercury.bio.uaf.edu/asm.

CONTACT: Kris Hundertmark, conference co-chairman, at 907-474-7159, ffkh@uaf.edu. Link Olson, conference co-chairman and University of Alaska Museum of the North mammal curator, at 907-474-5998, ffleo@uaf.edu. Marie Gilbert, Institute of Arctic Biology information officer, 907-474-7412, megilbert@alaska.edu Kerynn Fisher, University of Alaska Museum of the North communications coordinator, 907-474-6941, « Back to News Release Index