Dr. Michele Goldsmith Scientist-in-Residence, Emerson College Thursday, 16 October 2003 7:00 pm Performing Arts Center Auditorium Monmouth Regional High School (click here for directions) 1 Norman J Field Way Tinton Falls, NJ Refreshments and informal discussion will follow the lecture Free and Open to the Public
Dr. Goldsmith will discuss her latest research efforts in the areas of gorilla ecology and behavior, and will present her thoughts on the many threats affecting gorilla survival, as well as the techniques available to support their fragile existence. Since 1991 Dr. Goldsmith has studied both western lowland gorillas in the Congo basin and mountain gorillas in Uganda. Most recently, her work has focused on the impact of ecotourism on endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda.
Dr. Goldsmith is Scientist-in-Residence at Emerson College, and formerly Assistant Professor in the Center for Animals and Public Policy at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. She holds degrees in animal behavior, biology, and physical anthropology from Bucknell University and the University at Stony Brook. Prior to her position at Tufts she was a McKennan Postdoctoral Fellow at Dartmouth College. In 1992, as a Fulbright Scholar, she began her career as a great ape field biologist with research on the poorly known western lowland gorilla. After three years in the Central African Republic she then began studying mountain gorillas in Uganda. Presently, as a National Geographic Researcher, she examines the impact of ecotourism on the behavioral ecology of this highly endangered gorilla subspecies. She is interested in conservation and ethical issues surrounding all animal species, and is Co-Director of the Board of the Great Ape World Heritage Species Project, an international initiative to protect all great apes. She recently co-edited the book "Gorilla Biology: A Multidisciplinary Perspective" published by Cambridge University Press. Her work is also published in peer reviewed journals and has been featured in newspapers such as the Boston Globe and in TV documentaries such as WildThings and National Geographic Today.
The Norman J Field Lectures in Science were established in 1991 in memory of Dr. Norman J Field, and are cosponsored by the Monmouth County Section of the American Chemical Society, the Monmouth Junior Science Symposium, the Friends of the Monmouth County Library Association, the Monmouth County School Boards Association, and by the Rutgers University Chapter of Sigma Xi, an international scientific research society. Dr. Field was widely recognized for his contributions in the area of public education. He maintained a lifelong personal and professional interest in scientific issues. It is hoped that this lecture series will serve to promote similar interest in science and science education among both younger and older members of the community.
For additional information please contact:
Ken Field
fieldk@att.net