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---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Kevin Winker <[email protected]> Date: Sun, May 22, 2011 at 1:29 PM Subject: [NHCOLL-L:5446] Save Ornithology at the Barrick Museum! To: Dear colleagues, The dire message below that I received from John Klicka represents a last-ditch attempt to preserve the only remaining collections-based program in biology at the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Natural History, University of Nevada Las Vegas. If you can send an email in support of this productive and important program it might help. I've taken the liberty of expanding the recipient list to include people in decision-making roles at UNLV and of drafting a brief response upon which you might base an email to them (in addition, see Klicka's message below and copy him so that he can pool the details of your support and use them locally). Thanks, -- Kevin Winker University of Alaska Museum DRAFT email: Neal J. Smatresk (President, UNLV) , [email protected] Ronald Smith (VP for Research), [email protected] Dr. Oliver Hemmers (Director, OSEP), [email protected] Dear Drs. Smatresk, Smith, and Hemmers, I urge you to save the single position representing the Ornithology program at the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Natural History. This program has had an important scientific impact in ornithology, biodiversity, and the genetics of wildlife management. It has earned UNLV wide renown in these fields and represents a program of excellence at your institution in research, in student training, and in the research resource of the bird collection. The loss of this position and this program would be a significant blow to UNLV’s national and international reputation. Sincerely, XXX EMAIL FROM: John Klicka [email protected] Dear Colleagues: As many of you have likely heard, due to a prolonged economic downturn in Nevada the Curator of Birds position at the Marjorie Barrick Museum will likely lose its state funding after July 2011. This decision was ultimately made by the University's Vice President for Research (a long-term administrator, formerly a chair in the Sociology Department). The Director of my academic unit (Dr. Oliver Hemmers [[email protected]], an expert in X-ray atomic and molecular spectroscopy) has suggested that it might be helpful if I solicited some opinions from outside sources that would argue in support of the continued operation of the Ornithology program at the Barrick Museum. The immediate problems appear to be two-fold. First, Oliver has told me that the VP for Research believes that museum work is antiquated and no longer relevant in the modern world. He needs to be informed that the type of work being done in the Ornithology program is of critical importance in these days of disappearing habitats and climate change. Second, the VP for Research is apparently under the impression that nearly all we do in this program is collect, prepare, and catalogue specimens. Of course, as specimen-based researchers our group does these things, but the program has also been very productive with respect to student training and original research. Since 2006 we have produced 26 peer-reviewed publications and have given 22 presentations at national or international meetings (see web links below). The single state line associated with this program (the Curator position) thus produces a considerable return for the University. Our VP for Research needs to be informed that we do better than average work here, and that despite its small size, the Barrick Museum Ornithology Program and its collections have put UNLV on the map in the Ornithological world at an international level. If this sounds like a desperate, last-ditch effort to save yet another museum program from disappearing, it is. It is possible that the VP for Research may not change his mind, but I'd like for him to know that some very qualified people recognize the important contributions that this program makes to UNLV and to science and that they (you) do not approve of his decision. If you choose to help, please expand on the themes mentioned above and send your views to Dr. Oliver Hemmers at [email protected] (and please CC me). Your support is much appreciated. Regards, --John Klicka Publications here: http://barrickmuseum.unlv.edu/ornithology/publications.html Students here: http://barrickmuseum.unlv.edu/ornithology/personnel.html -- John Klicka Curator of Birds Marjorie Barrick Muse.of Natural History University of Nevada Las Vegas 4505 Maryland Parkway - Box 454012 Las Vegas, NV 89154-4012 -- Malcolm L. McCallum Managing Editor, Herpetological Conservation and Biology "Peer pressure is designed to contain anyone with a sense of drive" - Allan Nation 1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea" W.S. Gilbert 1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss, and pollution. 2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction MAY help restore populations. 2022: Soylent Green is People! 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