Description: David J. Skorton was elected the 13th Secretary of the Smithsonian by the Institution’s Board of Regents in March 2014 and officially assumed his position July 1, 2015. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and grew up in Los Angeles. Skorton received a B.S. in psychology in 1970 and his M.D. in 1974 from Northwestern University. His medical residency and fellowship in
Description: Robert Ridgway, known primarily for his extensive contributions to ornithology and as curator of birds for the United States National Museum, was also a keen observer of the changing landscape in areas where he conducted his detailed studies.
Description: Lydia Puccinelli-Robbins was the Curator of Collections at the Smithsonian Museum of African Art, 1979-99. But she had also been working as a registrar, educator, and curator with the Museum of African Art, 1966-79, before the collection was transferred to the Smithsonian. #Groundbreaker
Description: Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala investigate the deaths of rare whales off the Mexican coast for a US marine agency. In their search, they find a California agribusiness tycoon trying to monopolize earth's fresh water reserves.
Description: What was the Saint Augustine Monster? According to Wikipedia, it was a globster—“an unidentified organic mass that washes up on the shoreline of an ocean or other body of water.” This great-grandaddy of globsters kept cryptozoologists speculating and scientists testing for a century—and a piece of it lives at the Smithsonian. The St. Augustine monster was discovered by two
Description: Some of you may recall the symbol of the United States Forest Service fire prevention program, Smokey Bear. Perhaps I am dating myself, however I distinctly recall posters and television commercials between Saturday morning cartoons depicting the almost human looking bear wearing his park ranger hat and blue jeans, with shovel in one hand and stern finger pointed with the
Description: In Memorium: Dr. JoGayle Howard died March 5, 2011 at age 59, in Washington, D.C. from malignant melanoma. Her legacy lives on in the survival of the species that she studied, including the black-footed ferret, giant panda, clouded leopard, cheetah, fishing cat, Florida panther and elephant. Reproductive physiologist, Dr. JoGayle Howard, Smithsonian National Zoo, dedicated her