Mansi Srivastava appointed as an Editor-in-Chief of EvoDev

May 5, 2020

MCZ Faculty-Curator of Invertebrate Zoology Mansi Srivastava is one of two Editors-in-Chief of EvoDevo, an Open Access journal focused on research that promotes understanding of the pattern and process of morphological evolution. Read more about Mansi Srivastava appointed as an Editor-in-Chief of EvoDev

Vertebrate Paleontology rallies to create virtual labs for OEB course

May 4, 2020

Phil Fahn-Lai, Stephanie Pierce Lab grad student and OEB Teaching Fellow, rose to the challenge when all Harvard courses went online earlier this spring. A significant component to OEB 126 Vertebrate Paleontology, is handling MCZ fossils during in-person labs. When Phil learned students would no longer be on campus for these labs, he spent his last few days on campus scanning as many fossil specimens as possible. He then designed an interactive website... Read more about Vertebrate Paleontology rallies to create virtual labs for OEB course

photo of George Lauder working on computers

MCZ Faculty-Curators create robotically controlled models to test mobility of a recently-discovered dinosaur tail

April 30, 2020

MCZ Faculty-Curators George Lauder (Ichthyology) and Stephanie Pierce (Vertebrate Paleontology) were part of a recent project to determine the aquatic functionality of a dinosaur tail recently discovered and...

Posthumous portrait of Louis Agassiz by Henry Ulke (oil on canvas), signed and dated (1876) in lower left-hand corner, after restoration (ex Ulke Family Collection, Swann 2013, sale 2324, lot 328, in part); courtesy of ERB library

US Capitol’s lost painting of MCZ founder found after 150 years by Belgian shark researcher

March 26, 2020

Three years after Louis Agassiz died, Washington-based photographer Henry Ulke, also known as the ‘Painter of presidents’ and the photographer of Lincoln’s famous deathbed picture, painted Agassiz’s posthumous portrait (oil on canvas). In 1877, this portrait was purchased by the US Capitol (Washington DC). Thereafter, it soon went missing and remained unnoticed for nearly one hundred and fifty years, until the same portrait was recently found by shark researcher Frederik Mollen (Belgium) at a sale by Swann Auction Galleries, New York.

Many institutions provided archival...

Update from the MCZ during the Covid-19 outbreak

March 20, 2020

Collection departments at the MCZ are currently closed. While MCZ staff continue to work from home, no researchers are able to access the collections for the foreseeable future.

We are currently accepting applications for summer GUR grants and ...

Scott Edwards and colleague awarded the inaugural Inclusiveness, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Award

March 9, 2020

Congratulations to MCZ Faculty-Curator of Ornithology Dr. Scott Edwards and colleague Dr. Richard Kliman, the recipients of the first ASN/SSE/SSB Inclusiveness, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Award.

This award recognizes individuals who have strengthened our community by promoting...

New lizard genus named for Edward O. Wilson

February 18, 2020

A new genus of terrestrial lizard is named after Edward O. Wilson, Faculty Emeritus in the MCZ. Wilsonosaura is dedicated to Prof. Wilson in recognition of his lifelong contributions to biodiversity research and conservation. The genus is described in the journal Salamandra.

Now accepting applications for Vertebrate Paleontology Technician and Preparator

February 3, 2020

The MCZ is now accepting applications for a Vertebrate Paleontology Technician and Preparator.

The Vertebrate Paleontology Technician and Preparator operates and manages the Paleontology Preparation Laboratory and cares for fossils in the vertebrate paleontology collection. Research priorities of the department are established by the Faculty-Curator, Stephanie Pierce.

Infrared photographs of butterflies, where brightness correlates with the capability of radiative cooling

Living portions of butterfly wings prevent overheating

January 31, 2020

A recent study from MCZ Faculty-Curator of Lepidoptera, Naomi Pierce, and collaborators, looked at tissues in butterfly wings that are supplied by circulatory, neural and tracheal systems, indicating that the wing is a dynamic, living structure. Behavioral assays show that butterflies use wings to sense visible and infrared radiation, responding with specialized behaviors to prevent overheating of their wings. The study is published in... Read more about Living portions of butterfly wings prevent overheating

Stephanie Pierce awarded prize for Excellence in Science Teaching

December 18, 2019

Congratulations to Stephanie Pierce, MCZ Faculty-Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology, recipient of the 2019 Fannie Cox Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching for her exceptional teaching in introductory science courses. Courses Stephanie teaches include How to Build an Animal, Vertebrate Evolution, and The Fishy Aspects of the Human Body. Read more about Stephanie Pierce awarded prize for Excellence in Science Teaching

News