Press Release
UF students launch Panama Canal international research, education website
Feb. 8, 2011
Media contact:
Paul Ramey, APR
Assistant Director, Marketing and Public Relations
Florida Museum of Natural History
352-273-2054, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu
Writer: Logan Gerber
PHOTOS AVAILABLE
GAINESVILLE, Fla. --- University of Florida students recently launched a website to support the Florida Museum of Natural History's $3.8 million NSF-funded Partnerships in International Research Education grant and Panama Canal project.
The site, www.flmnh.ufl.edu/panama-pire/ allows researchers and students to share new findings, and serves as an outreach and collaboration outlet for the project, which involves collecting and studying fossils from deposits excavated during the Panama Canal expansion.
"The cool thing about this website is that it is entirely student driven," said Bruce MacFadden, Florida Museum curator of vertebrate paleontology and principal investigator for the project. "They did everything from start to finish. It was the class project for students in my graduate seminar course and they all worked together to conceptualize and create this amazing website."
The website includes video, photos and student funding opportunities. The next phase of the project includes interactive features and a Spanish version of the website to enhance outreach and international cooperation,
"It's a work in progress, but it's a really great site," said Claudia Grant, a web assistant at the museum, who was the only non-student working on the project. "There are lots of funding opportunities available and students interested in paleontology should check it out."
Doctoral student Catalina Pimiento served as the project coordinator and participated entirely via web conferencing from Panama. She also created a wiki page specifically to work on the site.
"I felt as though I was in Gainesville, there was no difficulty communicating," she said. "I always felt included and engaged even though I was so far away." Pimiento believes the website will help engage people interested in this type of research and hopes to it will help recruit undergraduate students to study abroad this summer in Panama.
"I'm really proud of how this turned out," she said. "Everyone came together from different disciplines to create this website and it turned out great. People can go to that website and stay up-to-date as this project moves along."
For more information on the website or upcoming study abroad opportunities to Panama contact Claudia Grant, cgrant@flmnh.ufl.edu or 352-273-1913.
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The Florida Museum of Natural History, Florida's state natural history museum, is dedicated to understanding, preserving and interpreting biological diversity and cultural heritage. It is located near the intersection of Southwest 34th Street and Hull Road in the University of Florida Cultural Plaza in Gainesville. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Butterfly Rainforest admission is $10.50 for adults ($9 Fla. residents) and $6 for ages 3-17. Prices subject to change. For more information, including directions and parking, visit www.flmnh.ufl.edu or call 352-846-2000.