Environmental Speaker Series: Mammals Magnified

Discover how museum specimens reveal secrets about biodiversity, climate change, disease, and wildlife adaptation. Ventura Land Trust's Environmental Speaker Series presents: Mammals Magnified: The Appreciation of Collections-Based Research in the 21st Century You’ve probably seen animals in dioramas in a museum or visitor center, but did you know that all sorts of animals are also preserved for long-term scientific research? Considered “libraries of life”, the preserved skins, skeletons, tissues, and more of wildlife collections can enhance our understanding of biodiversity on planet Earth and expand our awareness of the impacts of climate shifts and disease. The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History (SBMNH) has built and stewarded an extraordinary collection of mammal specimens over the last 100 years, hosting a robust collection of species from the central coast region and the Channel Islands, and representing almost 80% of California’s mammal diversity. Dr. Ally Coconis, Curator of Mammalogy at SBMNH, will share stories about the discoveries made using museum research collections and how they can inform us about the evolving and adapting wild world. About the Speaker: Ally Coconis is the Curator of Mammalogy at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, focusing her research on terrestrial small mammals. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Nevada Reno in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology, where she studied the niche differences between woodrat species in the Great Basin. In addition to her research interests, she is a member of various collection management societies and groups that advocate for increased FAIR data principles – ensuring data are findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable. Date: Thursday, October 29 Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Location: Surf Rodeo HQ, 205 N Garden Street Cost: Free | Suggested Donation $10 (can be made at the door) Space is limited, so please register in advance to reserve your spot! The Environmental Speaker Series is offered free to the public thanks to the generous sponsorship of Southern California Edison.