Project Passenger Pigeon

Lessons from the Past for a Sustainable Future

 

SullivlanSteve Sullivan

Schmidt
Jennifer Schmidt

Josh Engel

Joel G Joel Greenberg

 

Get Involved

Speakers Bureau: Illinois

Contacting P3 Project Speakers

The assembled group of experienced presenters are experts in various aspects of Project Passenger Pigeon and species sustainablity subjects. The links provide their background and contact information. They should be contacted directly with further questions and to make the necessary arrangements, including those involving expenses and honoraria.

ILLINOIS

Steve Sullivan, Curator of Urban Ecology
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Chicago Academy of Sciences

Jennifer Schmidt, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, and Shark Research Institute

Josh Engel
, Research Assistant
Field Museum Chicago, IL

Joel Greenberg, Research Associate at both
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Chicago Academy of Sciences,
and Field Museum, Chicago, IL

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Steve Sullivan, Curator of Urban Ecology
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Chicago Academy of Sciences
2430 North Cannon Drive,
Chicago, 60614

Steve has had a long-standing interest in passenger pigeons and other aspects of natural history. He has done field research in various parts of the world and is currently director of Project Squirrel, an effort to better understand the relationship between people and nature in the urban environment. Steve has been heavily involved with P3 from the beginning and is a member of the steering committee. Steve’s professional background includes taxidermy, fossil preparation, model and exhibit building, and even caring for passenger pigeon specimens. In his spare time Steve goes fish, reptile, and bird watching, gardens, kayaks, keeps and shows snakes, turns wood, and plays with his kids.

“Perspectives on Nature–as Experienced by Bipedal, Binocular, Megacephalic Members of the Food Chain (Me and You)”
The focus here is the human relationship with nature and the sustainable use of biological resources. This is a dynamic talk, most suitable for teen and adult audiences. It will make connections that are likely to surprise even nature lovers and will interest even those who find nature and ecology boring.

Distance willing to travel:
Depends on scheduling and support.

Contact Steve Sullivan at the Notebaert Nature Museum at
773-755-5100.

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Jennifer Schmidt, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, and Shark Research Institute

Jennifer has studied sharks for more than 10 years, focusing primarily on using genetic analysis to investigate the biology and behavior of whale sharks.

“Declining Shark Populations and the Loss of Apex Predators” Arguably the closest analogue to the slaughter of the passenger pigeons is commercial fishing in the open ocean beyond the reach of national rules and regulations. Sharks are among the species being most damaged by overfishing, as well as other less obvious factors. But, as top predators their decline is threatening the health and stability of the marine ecosystems of which they are a key part.

Distance willing to travel:
More than a two hour drive would be difficult, though perhaps not impossible depending on when and where.

Contact Jennifer at either jvs@uic.edu or at 312-519-7410

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Josh Engel
, Research Assistant
Field Museum
Chicago, IL 60605

Josh has traveled the world studying birds both as a researcher and a leader of natural history tours. He currently engages in ornithological research at the Field Museum and makes frequent presentations to groups throughout the Chicago region on birds.

Josh’s talk emphasizes passenger pigeons, extinction, and the human relationship with nature from a global perspective. He relates his own experiences in various places where he has seen both the destruction wrought by humans on natural systems as well as the attempts to save what remains. How can we learn from the past to stave off future extinctions, in a world where the obstacles to such a goal sometimes often seem insurmountable? Josh will bring his global experience to the discussion to look at what has worked—and what hasn't—to protect biodiversity around the world.

Distance willing to travel: Chicago area.

Contact Josh at jengel2@fieldmuseum.org

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Joel Greenberg
, Research Associate at both
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Chicago Academy of Sciences,
and Field Museum, Chicago, IL

Joel has been a birder/naturalist for 45 years, and has shared his love and knowledge of nature and conservation by authoring three books, writing numerous articles, co-hosting a radio show, blogging on Birdzilla.com, and lecturing widely. Since the summer of 2009, he has been working exclusively on passenger pigeons, for he is writing the first book on the species in over 50 years. The book is scheduled for publication in late 2013. His total immersion in the literature over that time led to his heavy involvement in Project Passenger Pigeon.

Joel has accumulated a vast array of passenger pigeon material and illustrations in preparation for his book and public presentations. This even includes the acquisition of his own passenger pigeon, named Heinrich after the 19th century composer who wrote a major symphony about the bird. Joel uses his passion and humor in telling the poignant story of this species, which also includes the interesting human characters who populate the bird’s history. But this is not just about the past: there is no better cautionary tale to the proposition that no matter how abundant something is it can be lost if we are not careful in our use. What happened to the passenger pigeon is relevant to us and those who come after.

Distance willing to travel: Contact for details.

Contact Joel at joelgreenberg@earthlink.net and/or at
630-725-9416.

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