What Does “Good” Look Like? A New Model for Human and Ecological Health

Climate change, food and water security crises, declines in human and ecological health, and loss of biodiversity and habitats are all serious symptoms caused and intensified by the lifestyles we lead in the West–lifestyles that set a standard for the rest of the world. Many of us are focused on addressing these symptoms, which is important in the short run; but, it is more important in the long run that we address the cause, which is the way we live. Being less bad is not good enough anymore. Follow the journey of Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in search of a regenerative way to build and
operate. Learn how this public garden seeks to create a new model for living that improves the health of people and the planet.

Richard Piacentini, PhD, Executive Director, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Hello from the Anthropocene: An Ant’s Eye View on Global Change

Can a tiny, brown ant from one river basin in Argentina tell us about the Anthropocene? Come and find out how a humble, local perspective can be useful to scale up to understand the Anthropocene. A term that describes the current geological epoch, a cultural zeitgeist, and a major new theme for engagement and research at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Heller will share some of her research background and emerging plans for curation.

Nicole Heller, PhD, Museum Fellow and Curator of the Anthropocene, Carnegie Museum of Natural History

A City Built for a God: Archaeology at Antinoupolis

The Roman emperor Hadrian’s trip down the Nile in 130 CE is infamous, not least because his companion–the Greek youth, Antinous–supposedly fell from their boat and drowned. Because of Egyptian beliefs, Antinous was deified after death, and Hadrian founded a city for the cult of the new god at Antinoupolis (city of Antinous). An overview of the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities and Italian Archaeological Mission of the University of Florence’s ongoing archaeological fieldwork at the site will be given. One of the Mission’s main goals is to make a complete archaeological and architectural picture of the Hadrianic city. New finds from February 2017 and 2018 investigations of the city’s sacred landscape will be highlighted.

Erin Peters, PhD, Assistant Curator of Science and Research, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Lecturer, University of Pittsburgh

Ancient Techniques, New Friends: Working in the Cherokee Revival

Teaching the ancient art of making feather capes and the 18th century style of fingerweaving to members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina has led to the rebirth of traditional craft techniques, long lost through the exigencies of history, and a growing source of revenue.

Deborah Harding, MA, Collection Manager, Anthropology, Carnegie Museum of Natural History

Carnegie Living Collection: The Benefits of Using Live Animals in Educational Programming

Utilizing live animals from the Museum’s Living Collection in educational offerings allows our Lifelong Learning Department to conduct research on such programs. Learn more about the care, training, and day-to-day management of such an institutional animal collection.

Mallory Vopal, Gallery Experience Manager, Lifelong Learning, Carnegie Museum of Natural History

Studying the Impact of the 66 Million-Year-Old Asteroid Strike on Mammal Evolution

Armed with four years of National Science Foundation funding, John Wible and an international team of collaborators are attacking the mystery of what effect the asteroid strike, which resulted in the demise of non-avian dinosaurs, had on mammal evolution. Their goal is to choose between the competing theories that the impact had no appreciable effect or that the impact was the principal driver of subsequent mammal evolution. The team’s approach to the problem will be explained, and an update on the progress of the project’s first year will be provided.

John Wible, PhD, Curator and Head, Mammals, Carnegie Museum of Natural History

Beyond the Forest and the Trees

In recent years, our Powdermill Nature Reserve facility has initiated a number of programs relating to plant ecology that complement its famous avian research programs. These range from cutting-edge basic research to public outreach designed for general accessibility. Some of these programs are accompanied by web-based technology to extend the reserve’s reach worldwide. Its 3D virtual reality program will be incorporated into the museum’s galleries in 2018.

John Wenzel, PhD, Director, Powdermill Nature Reserve