Biological collections at the University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge: a unique historical record

Transcription

1 Biological collections at the University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge: a unique historical record Start date 7 December 2012 End date 9 December 2012 Venue Madingley Hall, Madingley, Cambridge and University Museum of Zoology, Downing Street, Cambridge Tutor Russell Stebbings and Edgar Turner, with guest lectures from Dr Mike Brooke and Dr Richard Preece Course code 1213NRX049 Director of Public Programmes and Professional Studies: Dr Ian Baxter For further information on this course, please contact To book See: or telephone Linda Fisher, Academic Programme Manager on Sandy Haylock, Programme Administrator on Tutor biography Russell Stebbings: Russell has worked for the University of Cambridge Museums for 13 years, before which he volunteered for 9 months in the Museum of Zoology. He has also contributed many years of volunteer work, particularly in the areas of bat conservation and research, entomological fieldwork, and public communication relating to natural history. He has also given talks on Museum collections topics to audiences of the University of Cambridge and the Institute of Biologists. Following his degree, he has completed a postgraduate qualification in Museum Studies and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. Ed Turner: Ed is a conservation scientist, who researches management strategies that can be employed to conserve species diversity and healthy ecosystem functioning both in the UK and abroad. He carried out his Ph.D. in Sabah, Malaysia, studying the impacts of rainforest loss and conversion to oil palm plantation on insect biodiversity. Since then he has worked with the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Peterborough Wildlife Trust, investigating University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education, Madingley Hall, Cambridge, CB23 8AQ

2 butterfly diversity on chalk grassland reserves and heathland management in Bedfordshire. For the last two years he has worked with Imperial College, London running the Stability of Altered Forest Ecosystems Project in Sabah one of the largest ecological experiments in the world. Ed enjoys communicating science and natural history to wider audiences. He is a College Research Associate at Clare College and an Affiliated Researcher at the University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge.

3 Course Programme PLEASE NOTE WITH EFFECT FROM NOVEMBER 2012 DINNER WILL BE SERVED AT 7.00 PM BOTH FRIDAY AND SATURDAY EVENINGS. Friday 7 December 2012 Please plan to arrive between 4:30 and 6:30. You can meet other course members in the bar which opens at 6:15. Tea and Coffee making facilities are available in the study bedrooms pm Dinner 8.30 pm pm Why biological collections are important (Ed Turner and Russell Stebbings). This presentation and discussion will explore the role of biological collections in science today and their importance for research, conservation and teaching pm Terrace bar open for informal discussion Saturday 8 December am Breakfast 9.00 am Travel to the Department of Zoology 9.30 am am Patterns of collecting (Russell Stebbings). This presentation will explore the origins of some the collections housed in the museum. Russell will introduce some of the scientific giants whose collections are stored in Cambridge am Coffee pm A tour of the collections (Russell Stebbings). A brief guided tour of the public displays and a behind-the-scenes look at the collections pm Lunch 2.00pm 3.00pm 3.00pm-4.00pm 4.00pm What Darwin s finches teach us about evolution (guest lecture by Dr M Brooke, Strickland Curator of Birds). Practical session in data collection (Russell Stebbings and Ed Turner). This session will allow participants to gain hands-on experience with specimens from the museum s butterfly collection. Participants will examine specimens and harvest biological data to produce records that have never been recorded before! Break and chance to explore the insect collection more fully pm Return to Madingley and free time.

4 7.00 pm Dinner 8.30 pm pm The Rev Leonard Jenyns ( ): the Gilbert White of Cambridgeshire. Guest Lecturer, Dr Richard Preece, Curator of Malacology, will give a talk about an exciting new project that combines historical records from the 19 th Century naturalist Leonard Jenyns, with modern day distributions of species in Cambridgeshire pm Terrace bar open for informal discussion Sunday 9 December am Breakfast 9.00 am am An introduction into methods of collecting and preparing biological specimens (Russell Stebbings). This session will include an overview of some of the techniques employed to collect biological material in the Madingley grounds and how this can be prepared for storage and display am Coffee am pm Practical session focussing on the identification, labelling and preparation of biological material using insects as an example (Russell Stebbings and Ed Turner). We will finish with a discussion of how anyone can help contribute to the collection of biological records in the UK pm Lunch The course will disperse after lunch

5 Course syllabus Aims: To explain the value of biological collections for a range of different disciplines. To explain the different uses to which biological collections are put. To explore the wealth of biological material stored in the Museum of Zoology. To gain practical understanding of the methods used to prepare and maintain biological specimens. Content: Biological specimens have been collected by both professionals and enthusiastic amateurs in the UK for hundreds of years. These specimens form the backbone of museum collections and provide an irreplaceable record of biological and historical importance. This introductory course explores some of the collections housed in the Museum of Zoology, how they are maintained and looked after, and their importance for research and teaching. The weekend will include a mixture of taught sessions and practical components to provide participants with a clear overview of the value of such collections and methods that are employed to prepare and maintain specimens. Presentation of the course: The course will include a mixture of sessions at Madingley Hall and at the Museum of Zoology, Cambridge. The course will combine presentations and practical demonstrations of data collection and specimen preparation. Outcomes: As a result of the course, within the constraints of the time available, students should be able to: Evaluate the importance of biological collections. Appreciate the range of biological material housed within Cambridge. Demonstrate knowledge of methods used to curate biological material.

6 Reading and resources list Listed below are a number of texts that might be of interest for future reference, but do not need to be bought (or consulted) for the course. Author Title Publisher and date Brian Rushton, Paul Hackney and Catherine Tyrie Biological collections and biodiversity Westbury Academic and Scientific Publishing 2001 Charles Darwin Voyage of the Beagle Penguin Books 1989 Alfred Russel Wallace The Malay Archipelago John Beaufoy 2010 Website Addresses University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge The complete works of Charles Darwin Note Students of the Institute of Continuing Education are entitled to 20% discount on books published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) which are purchased at the Press bookshop, 1 Trinity Street, Cambridge (Mon-Sat 9am 5:30pm, Sun 11am 5pm). A letter or confirming acceptance on to a current Institute course should be taken as evidence of enrolment. Information correct as of May 2012