Craig is temporarily a post-doctoral fellow at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute who is looking for a permanent position. He spends most of his time balancing his overwhelming geekdom with normalcy so he can function in the real world. Luckily his wife likes his geekiness.
Peter Etnoyer is a Graduate Research Associate at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. He studies deep corals and ocean fronts, and he loves to be on the water.
Kevin Zelnio is a Graduate Student Researcher at Penn State studying the ecology of hydrothermal vent and methane seep communities. He raises awareness of the plight of the spineless through folk music.
The last forum at the International Biogeography Society meeting discussed how biogeographer's might increase public outreach. Unfortunately little attention was given to what I feel is one of the most effective mechanisms, blogging. The forum really discussed more traditional processes such as press releases, museum exhibits, and popular science writing.
So to my other SB'lings and to you, I propose a challenge. First, can you without a
Google search define what the field of biogeography is. Second, as a voice for our audience, what do you think is the most effective mechanism for outreach.
Comments
It's phylogeography without the molecular markers.
Posted by: RPM | January 15, 2007 10:35 AM
It's a map of the United States I have hanging in my bathroom, with a map pin stuck into each city in which I've lived?
Posted by: Katherine Sharpe | January 15, 2007 12:32 PM
Um...outreach might involve walking around and pricking other people with map pins?
Seriously, I want to know what biogeography is.
Posted by: Katherine Sharpe | January 15, 2007 12:51 PM
Here's define: biogeography. Which reminds me, I still have to pass this exam. Sigh.
As a side note, I didn't find any emails from the authors to post this. It may take a while to load.
Posted by: romunov
| January 15, 2007 1:05 PM
Katherine,
You have to wait for it, although your first comment isn't far off
Posted by: CR McClain | January 15, 2007 1:59 PM
It's ecology (the study of species distributions in space and time) on a global scale.
The most effective outreach mechanism? An invasive species like the snakehead fish or the killer bee.
Posted by: Peter Etnoyer | January 15, 2007 2:09 PM
biogeography - the patterns of the geographic distribution of biodiversity - where organisms are, where they ain't, and who lives with (or without) whom
I think you are right about using the blogosphere for public outreach - the internet is by far the manner in which most of us now go looking for infomation - print is quickly taking a backseat (already did?)
Posted by: Jim Lemire | January 16, 2007 4:20 PM