Tuesday, October 14
Wednesday, October 15
Thursday, October 16
Friday, October 17
Saturday, October 18
Tuesday, October 14
Special Lecture by Neil Shubin
Sponsored by the Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) Developmental Biology Training Program, the CWRU Darwin Celebration Planning Committee and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location: Cleveland Museum of Natural History,
Murch Auditorium
 |
Neil Shubin, Associate Dean of Organismal and Evolutionary Biology and RR. at the University of Chicago, holds part of a fossil from Tiktaalik roseae, a newly discovered species that fills in the evolutionary gap between fish and land animals. |
Neil Shubin will present on his most recent discovery, Tiktaalik, and his new book, "Your Inner Fish: A Journey Through the 3.5-Billion-Year History of the Human Body" (Pantheon Press), which was released January 15, 2008. Tiktaalik roseae has been dubbed the "missing link" between fishes and land animals. Shubin researches the evolutionary origin of anatomical features of animals, with the evolution of limbs being his specific area of expertise. He uses his diverse fossil findings to devise hypotheses on how anatomical transformations occurred by way of genetic and morphogenetic processes. Shubin has published multiple articles in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleobiology, as well as more than 18 articles in Science and Nature.
Transportation to the event is not provided. The
CMNH is located five miles from the conference
hotel at 1 Wade Oval Drive, University Circle,
Cleveland, OH 44106.
Directions to the CMNH.
Wednesday, October 15
Opening Ceremony
8:00 a.m. - 8:15 a.m.
Location: Renaissance Cleveland Hotel
Join all attendees as President Catherine Badgley and Keynote Speaker Dr. Bruce Latimer, the executive director of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, launch a week packed with activities.
SVP Town Hall Meeting
on Evolution VI
12:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Location: Renaissance Cleveland Hotel
Evolution education controversies continue despite the landmark Kitzmiller "Intelligent Design" trial verdict of three years ago. Exciting new efforts are underway to enhance both evolution education and the public's understanding of science. Up-to-date information will be shared by members of the SVP Education and Outreach Committee, and there will be opportunity for discussion during a brief open mike session.
*NOTE: Boxed lunches are available for purchase, but must be ordered in advance with your annual meeting registration.
Co-organizers:
Judy Scotchmoor
Assistant Director
University of California Museum of Paleontology
University of California Berkeley
Berkeley, CA USA
E-mail: jscotch@berkeley.edu
Mark Terry
Science Department Chair
Northwest School
Seattle, WA USA
E-mail: mark.terry@northwestschool.org
"Current Funding Trends and Future Research Prospects for Paleobiology"
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Location: Renaissance Cleveland Hotel
Raymond L. Bernor will speak on the subject of funding trends and future research prospects for paleobiology. His presentation will be followed by a question and answer period. Dr. Bernor is the program director of the
Sedimentary Geology and Paleobiology Surface Earth Section, EAR/GEO, of the National Science Foundation.
Welcome Reception
7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Location: Cleveland Museum of Natural History
See a beautiful museum in Cleveland's famous
University Circle area and mingle with old timers
and newcomers alike during a relaxed mixer to
kick off the annual meeting. A light dinner and
a cash bar will be provided. The reception is
included in your registration fee.
PaleoArt Poster Exhibit
7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Location: Cleveland Museum of Natural History
This exhibit presents an opportunity for paleoartists to expose the SVP community to the art of clarification, reconstruction and visualization required by the science of paleontology to re-create and enliven extinct flora and fauna. No prizes will be awarded. Although held in conjunction with the annual SVP meeting and during Wednesday's Opening Reception, this is a juried PaleoArt Poster Exhibit, and is not affiliated with or sponsored by SVP, but is presented through an arrangement by the PaleoArt Poster Committee with the Cleveland Museum of Natural History to complement the meeting.
Click here for complete details.
Thursday, October 16
Women in Paleontology
Luncheon: "National Science
Foundation Funding"
12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.*
Location: Renaissance Cleveland Hotel
The Women in Paleontology Luncheon organizers are proud to announce that Dr. Judith Skog, the director of the Biological Infrastructure Division at the National Science Foundation, will be speaking on funding paleontological research through NSF. She will be discussing topics such as how NSF funding "works," program goals in both the Biology and Geosciences program areas and successful proposal strategies. As always, men are welcome to attend the Women in Paleontology Luncheon especially in this case with a topic relevant to both genders.
*NOTE: Boxed lunches are available for purchase, but must be ordered in advance with your annual meeting registration.
Organizer:
Karen Sears
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Urbana, IL USA
E-mail: kesears@alumni.uchicago.edu
SVP Annual Business Meeting
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Location: Renaissance Cleveland Hotel
An opportunity to quickly understand SVP's: budget, financial and membership picture, election results, accomplishments and current initiatives.
NEW! Coffee, tea and light snacks will be provided.
Frans Lanting:
Life: A Journey Through Time
7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
(including time for questions and answers)
A book signing and reception will follow.
Location: Renaissance Cleveland Hotel
Frans Lanting, acclaimed as one of the great nature photographers of our time, will lead us on a personal journey of the making of his latest book," Life: A Journey Through Time." In the year 2000, Lanting set off on a journey of photographic discovery that parallels new scientific insights about the story of life on Earth. His search has been wide-ranging and provocative, leading him from microscopic worlds to primordial landscapes that preserve time capsules of life's history. The result is a glorious celebration of planet Earth that inspires and informs through images and stories of the amazing biodiversity that surrounds us all. Lanting's influential work appears in books, magazines and exhibitions around the world, and has frequently been commissioned by National Geographic, where he has served as a photographer-in-residence.
Student Roundtable Forum and
Reprint Exchange
9:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Location: Renaissance Cleveland Hotel
During this informal session students can network and receive accurate and important advice from respected experts and leaders on many topics including:
The Student Reprint Exchange is a chance for you to build your library, free of charge. Recent reprints on all areas of vertebrate paleontology will be available through the generous donations of SVP members. Refreshments and snacks will be provided.
Organizer:
Kerin Claeson
Student Liaison Committee Chair
E-mail: kclaeson@mail.utexas.edu
Friday, October 17
SVP's Annual Benefit Auction
and Social
6:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Location: Renaissance Cleveland Hotel
The Auction Committee, under the stewardship of Brent Breithaupt, continues with impressive surprises around every corner, from themed costumes (last year the auction committee dressed ready to play a part in "The Pirates of the Caribbean") to the hundreds of one-of-a-kind items there for the bidding. Plan to be a part of it all -- start gathering items to be donated for the silent and live auctions. A light meal and a cash bar will be provided.
Check your pockets, couch and anywhere else you might have spare change because three spectacular casts have been donated for the auction.
Clean your house and donate some treasures of your own. Don't overlook artwork, maps, casts, books, interesting field items, autographed memorabilia... be creative. No item is too small, nor too big. These may include fossil replicas, books, reprints, artwork, toys, t-shirts -- use your imagination. Fossils will not be accepted.
Bring your items with you and turn them in prior to the auction at the registration desk during registration hours, or ship them by Friday, October 10, 2008. Download the Auction Donation Form, which includes shipping instructions. If you are shipping an extremely large item, contact the SVP business office first: 847/480-9095, fax: 847/480-9282; e-mail: svp@vertpaleo.org.
View the spectacular casts that have already been donated to this year's event.
For more information on the SVP Auction contact:
Brent H. Breithaupt
University of Wyoming
Laramie, WY USA
Phone: 307/766-2646
E-mail: uwgeoms@uwyo.edu
Saturday, October 18
Open Executive Committee Meeting
7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.
Location: Renaissance Cleveland Hotel
SVP members are encouraged to attend this meeting and bring questions or concerns.
Global Climate Change:
Past and Future
SVP Engages in a Hot Topic
12:15 p.m. -1:45 p.m.*
Location: Renaissance Cleveland Hotel
A panel of distinguished scientists addresses the relevance of the fossil record to understanding the impact of current global warming on species and ecosystems. The panel features Elizabeth Hadly of Stanford University, Thure Cerling of University of Utah and Jack Williams of University of Wisconsin. Read more about the panelists and the forum topics.
*NOTE: Boxed lunches are available for purchase, but must be pre-ordered in advance with your annual meeting registration.
Awards Banquet
7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Location: Renaissance Cleveland Hotel
SVP members and friends will come together to recognize and honor a few of their own. The society's awards and prizes will be presented after dinner. Casual attire.
NOTE: All seating at the banquet must be reserved. Seat reservations will be done onsite during the annual meeting near the SVP registration area.
After-Hours Party
10:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Location: Renaissance Cleveland Hotel
Unwind and exchange notes, name tags and good-byes at this conclusion to a great week. Music and a cash bar will be provided.