RW Moriarty Science Seminars

R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar Presents: Understanding the Mid-Atlantic Flora...One Specimen at a Time Speakers: Cindy Skema, Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania Plant collections and their archiving in herbaria form a cornerstone in the foundation of plant science studies. We will discuss the why, how, and where of this work, as well as the […]

R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar Presents: Rethinking Plant Heat Tolerances and Photosynthetic Strategies of Tropical Plants Speakers: Timothy Perez Stomata and leaf size thermoregulatory traits, a thermograph of leaves, and a tropical forest. Abstract: As climate changes so too do the compositions of terrestrial plant communities that sequester carbon and mitigate climate change. However, the physiological […]

R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar Presents: The mysterious megaraptorids: giant-clawed meat-eating dinosaurs from the southern continents Speakers: Matt Lamanna, Carnegie Museum of Natural History Articulated antebrachium (forearm) and manus (hand) of eponymous megaraptorid Megaraptor namunhuaiquii. The largest, innermost claw at right is approximately 40 cm (~16 inches) in length. Credit: Wikipedia (raffaele sergi from Pinerolo, Italia - dinosauri […]

R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar Presents: Integrating the living and the dead: how functional traits can improve our understanding of early Cenozoic fern evolution Speaker: Molly Ng, Carnegie Museum of Natural History Abstract:Plants have different economic strategies to grow, survive, and reproduce. In leaves, these strategies are important in producing energy for the entire plant. Leaf mass per […]

R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar Presents: Eavesdropping on wildlife: Realizing the potential of autonomous acoustic surveys for ecology and conservation biology Speaker: Tessa Rhinehart, University of Pittsburgh Abstract:: In an era of rapid global change, it is critically important to understand how anthropogenic actions like habitat disturbance and restoration affect wildlife populations. Ecologists and conservation biologists are increasingly […]

R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar Presents: Dead shells speak: detecting unsuspected ecosystem change without being there Speaker: Susan Kidwell, University of Chicago Abstract:One of the major challenges for environmental management and conservation biology is simply discovering ‘what was natural’ before human impacts. This problem is especially pressing in marine systems, where biological monitoring and other records are brief […]

R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar Presents: Modern mineralogy at the Smithsonian NMNH Speaker: Gabriela Farfan, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Abstract:The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History is renowned for its National Gem and Mineral Collection that encompasses the American “crown jewels,” such as the Hope Diamond, world class mineral specimens, and hundreds of thousands of reference […]

R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar Presents: Working the Face: Integrative Evolutionary Morphology & Physiology in the Mammalian Face Speaker: Anne Burrows, Duquesne University Abstract:Faces are ubiquitous in the mammalian and general vertebrate clades. However, our understanding of the evolutionary morphology and physiology of the face remains unclear. We have many paleontological pieces of evidence for how the bony […]

R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar Presents: The Datafied Animal: Big Data, Machine Learning, and Wildlife Conservation Speaker: Emily Wanderer, University of Pittsburgh Abstract: Over the past twenty years, scientists have developed an ever expanding “internet of animals.” This internet of animals is composed of GPS-tracking and biologging technologies and machine learning and AI tools; they are being deployed […]

R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar Presents: Natural history, ecology, and evolution in the invasive Japanese stiltgrass Speaker: Craig Barrett, West Virginia University This event will take place Monday, September 26 at Noon both online and at Earth Theater. Abstract: Invasive species cause billions of US dollars in damage, degrade natural and agricultural lands, spread disease, and threaten […]

R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar Presents: Finding Dippy: "The Science Behind an Icon" Speaker: John Whitlock, Mount Aloysius College This event will take place Monday, October 10 at Noon both online and at Earth Theater. Abstract: Pittsburgh’s beloved “Dippy” the Diplodocus isn’t just a cultural touchstone for the people that live and work in the city, it’s also an […]

R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar Presents: "Stories from the dead: What museum specimens tell us about the living world" Speaker: Mason Heberling, Carnegie Museum of Natural History Assistant Curator, Section of Botany This event will take place Monday, October 24 at Noon both online and at Earth Theater. Abstract: Why does Carnegie Museum of Natural History have […]

R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar Presents: "How to Make a Coffin in Ancient Egypt" Speaker: Kea Johnston, University of California, Berkeley This event will take place Monday, November 7 at Noon both online and at Earth Theater. Abstract: To wealthy ancient Egyptians of the First Millennium BCE, a coffin was the most important element of their burial. […]

R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar Presents: "LOCUS TYPICUS: ASIA MINOR, Journeys in Turkey to Locate Type Localities of Land Snails" Speaker: Aydin Örstan, Carnegie Museum of Natural History This event will take place Monday, November 21 at Noon both online and at Earth Theater. Abstract: Turkey (Türkiye) has a rich land snail fauna with many endemic species. […]

R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar Presents: "Biodiversity collapse and the future of the Eastern Deciduous Forest Biome of North America" Speaker: Walter Carson, University of Pittsburgh This event will take place Monday, December 5 at Noon both online and at Earth Theater. Abstract: Throughout the Eastern Deciduous Forest Biome of North America, a near century of […]

R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar Presents: "The Unnatural History of Cartoon Insects" Speaker: Jay Hosler, Juniata College This event will take place Monday, December 19 at Noon both online and at Earth Theater. Abstract: Science, art, and story are core components of human creativity. When we try to separate them with artificial disciplinary boundaries, we weaken […]

R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar Presents: "Ceratopsian Dinosaurs in the 21st Century: Lifestyles of the Horned and Hornless" Speaker: Eric Morschhauser, Indiana University of Pennsylvania. This event will take place Monday, January 9 at Noon both online and at Earth Theater. Abstract: Ceratopsians, the horned dinosaurs, were first discovered in the late 19th Century and have […]

R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar Presents: "Follow Your Nose: How birds use scent to find mates, assess rivals, and recognize relatives" Speaker: Danielle Whittaker, Oregon State University. This event will take place online Monday, February 13 at Noon. Abstract: Smell has been called the most ancient sense, and songbirds are no exception in their use of […]

R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar Presents: "Using the Past to Predict the Future: What Museum Specimens Can Tell Us About Ecological Responses to Anthropogenic Change" Speaker: Jennifer Sheridan, Carnegie Museum of Natural History. This event will take place Monday, February 27 at Noon both online and at Earth Theater. Abstract: Animal body size dictates a host […]

R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar Presents: "Sailing Through Eternity: Caring for the Dahshur Funerary Boat" Speakers: Gretchen Anderson and Dr. Lisa Haney, Carnegie Museum of Natural History This event will take place Monday, March 13 at Noon online via Zoom. Abstract: Four ancient Egyptian boats were excavated at Dahshur, Egypt in the 1890s. The Carnegie Museum […]