[Libs-Or] This Friday, 2/24: A Renaissance for the Oregon State Ichthyology Collection, with Dr. Brian Sidlauskas

[Hussong-Christian, Uta]

Good Morning,

Just a reminder that the OSU Libraries' Library Faculty Association invites you to this Friday's Seminar Series Presentation: A Renaissance for the Oregon State Ichthyology Collection, with Dr. Brian Sidlauskas, Associate Professor in OSU's Department of Fisheries & Wildlife and Curator of the Ichthyology Collection.

We are webcasting the presentation, so  if you are not able to be physically present, please join the meeting<https://oregonstate.webex.com/oregonstate/j.php?MTID=medd87c97de15ab16d8bbcf11eca9a48b> remotely.

Also please note that the presentation will be in the Autzen classroom (Valley 2082).

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The Oregon State Ichthyology Collection (OSIC), which contains approximately a quarter million preserved fish specimens, has been a major center of research and education on the biology of fishes since its establishment in 1935.  Despite continued scientific use, the OSIC's physical facilities declined in the late 20th century due to a lack of space for growth and insufficient funding.  Simultaneously, a lack of computerization discouraged researchers elsewhere from accessing its specimens.  Curator Brian Sidlauskas will discuss how we restored the scientific and educational value of the OSIC, and highlight recent science using the collection.  One component of the restoration upgraded the collections' physical facilities by installing mobile compact shelving in a renovated space that now meets modern fire and earthquake safety codes. We also upgraded the collection's digital presence by modernizing the collection's catalog of specimens and making the holdings searchable online at ichthyology.oregonstate.edu. Through the completion of this project, one of the most important libraries of ichthyological diversity on the west coast of the US is again stable, safe, properly curated, and accessible to the world's community of scientists. It regularly accessions new specimens, loans material to researchers at other institutions, hosts researchers from around the world, and supports research and teaching on taxonomy, genetics, biogeography, parasitology, evolution, ecology and conservation biology.

Brian Sidlauskas is an associate professor in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Oregon State University.  The son of a fisherman and an art teacher, he grew up along the coast of historic Salem, Massachusetts.  As an ichthyologist, Dr. Sidlauskas works to help reveal and protect the world's tremendous biodiversity of fishes.  He teaches courses dealing with ichthyology, systematics, biodiversity and conservation biology, and his research seeks to understand the evolution, ecology and diversity of freshwater fishes on scales ranging from local to global. He achieved a measure of internet fame for his use of Facebook to community source fish identifications from photographs. Dr. Sidlauskas has involved nearly two dozen undergraduates in the research and management of the quarter-million preserved fishes in the Oregon State Ichthyology Collection, which he curates.  In 2014 he was named OSU's Undergraduate Mentor of the Year.
The seminar will take place in the Autzen classroom on the main (2nd) floor of the Valley Library (Valley 2082). Light refreshments will be provided. Please contact Beth.Filar-Williams at oregonstate.edu<mailto:Beth.Filar-Williams at oregonstate.edu> or Uta.Hussong-Christian at oregonstate.edu<mailto:Uta.Hussong-Christian at oregonstate.edu> with any questions. Library visitor info (including campus map and parking info can be found online: http://osulibrary.oregonstate.edu/visit)


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Uta Hussong-Christian
Science Librarian | Associate Professor
Oregon State University Libraries & Press

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