Dennis Ferraro, professor of practice, and several of his herpetology students recently attended the Kansas Herpetological Society (KHS) annual conference, which features presentations of the latest herpetological research in the Midwest.
The late Joseph Collins, who authored the North American Herp field guide, started the Kansas Herpetological Society in 1974. Collins also initiated the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (SSAR).
"SSAR is the prominent national herp society, and KHS is the prominent herp society of the Midwest," Ferraro said.
The Kansas Herpetological Society conference allows young researchers to present their work to a crowd of about 100 university faculty and their research students, as well as herpetoculturists, book publishers and museum curators.
Ferraro encourages students to attend this event and to present their research. This year, three SNR students presented at the conference.
Dylan Tegtmeier presented his tadpole toxicology research. Carolyn Reiland-Smith presented her gecko tail autonomy research and Dylan Maag presented his pit viper prey procurement research.
Other students in attendance included Anthony Brunetti, Michaela Wilson, Brooke Welsh, Emma Trewhitt and Josh Mead. These students represent a mix of herpetology students and herpetology research students.
Tegtmeier, Reiland-Smith and Maag each represented SNR by presenting their UCARE research.
"We networked with students and faculty from all over the nation until the wee hours of the early morning," Ferraro said.
Several students returned from the conference with business cards and internships for the summer.
"I met people who worked on the same animal my research focused on, and I learned about new career paths I didn't even know existed," Reiland-Smith said.
For more information about the Kansas Herpetological Society, visit http://www.cnah.org/khs.
— written by Dylan Tegtmeier
— edited by Mekita Rivas, Natural Resources
More details at: http://www.cnah.org/khs