Rupert Anderson Award in Systematics

A great way to learn about organismal diversity is to work with a collection. The �鶹��Ƶ Biology Department has several opportunities to work with plant and animal collections! In order to share our insect, plant and vertebrate collections with a larger community we are in the process of organizing and displaying information, including images, about the specimens in our collections on a newly-designed website. This site will serve as a resource for classes at �鶹��Ƶ, the St. Peter community and scientists.

Collections are a vital component of scientific study and education with uses including:

• cataloguing diversity within a taxon,
• recording species found within a particular geographic range, and
• understanding evolutionary change within and between populations.

This award is an opportunity for you to contribute to the department’s educational objectives & learn about a particular taxon.

To Apply

• Contact and meet with one of the faculty members listed below
  • Plants: Pamela Kittelson (pkittels@gustavus.edu)
  • Vertebrates: Jon Grinnell (grinnell@gustavus.edu) or Eric Elias (eelias@gustavus.edu)
  • Insects: Margaret Bloch Qazi (mqazi@gustavus.edu)
• With your faculty collaborator, develop a short proposal in which you:
  1. Clearly state what informational content and how much of the collection will be posted online by the end of the award period (December 12, 2008)
  2. Describe what archival work needs to be done to support #1 (above) and what you intend to accomplish in one semester.
  3. Submit an itemized budget of no more than $160 to support your work. Money can be used to: travel to see collections at other institutions, purchase supplies to present or archive specimens, and acquire texts related to the collection subject.
• Three copies of the proposal are due to Dr. Bloch Qazi (NHS 329) by 5pm September 19.

Students successfully completing the proposed work will be recognized at Honors Day.